The Chronicle of the English Augustinian canonesses regular of the Lateran, at St. Monica's in Louvain (now at St. Augustine's priory, Newton Abbot, Devon) 1548[-1644]

ST. EDMUND'S COLLEGE
MUSEUM

NOT TO BE TAKEN AWAY,

THE LIBRARY

OF

THE UNIVERSITY

OF CALIFORNIA

LOS ANGELES

\ViLLiAM Howard, Viscount Stafford.

Beheaded on Tower Hill, 2gth December 1680.

Pencil Sketch from Life, preserved at St Augustine's Priunj.

[Face Title-page.

The ChPvOnicle of the Engush

AUGUSTINIAN CANONESSES REGULAR
OF THE I.ATERAN, AT ST MONICA'S

IN LOUVAIN

(NOW AT ST AUGUSTINKS PRIORY, NEWTON ABBOT, DEVON)

1548 to 1625

EDITED, WITH NOTES AND ADDITIONS

]^Y DOM ADAM HAMILTON, O.S.B.

WITH MANY RARE ILLUSTRATIONS AND PEDIGREES

SANDS & CO.

EDINBU1U;H: l.i BANK STREET

LONDON: 11 HENRIETTA STREET, STRAND

1904

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

1501931

D. MAURUS M. SERAFINI

Abbas Generalis

Congregationis Casinensis a Primceva Obseruantia
Ordinis Sancti Benedicti

Cum opus CUi ftfu/us— RECORDS OF THE ENGLISH CaNONESSES

Regular of St Augustine — a /?. P. D. Adamo Hamilton eiusdem
Congnis presbytero^ et Monacho Provincice nostra GalliccB elaboratum,
Patres ad hoc deputati a Rmo P. D. Leandro Lemx)ine Abbate Visita-
tore prafata Provincice iamquam Censores diligenter examinaverint,
et nihil in eo fidei aut bonis moribus contrarium deprehenderint, dig-
numque indicaverint quod typis publice edatur : Nos, quantum ad
nostram potestatem pertinet, licentiam concedimus ipsum imprimendi et
evulgandi, si iis ad quos spectat videbitur expedire.

Die 28 Octobris 1903.

Jlihil ©bstat:

Franciscus Aveling, S.T.D.

Censor Deputatus.

Impximatttr :

Die jm" Junii
MCMIV.

►J< Franciscus,

Archiepus. Westmottast,

THE REVEREND MOTHER PRIORESS

AND THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY OF THE PRIORY OF ST AUGUSTINE
AT NEWTON ABBOT IN DEVON, THIS RECORD OF THEIR OWN
HISTORY AND OF THE HEROISM OF THEIR FORE-
FATHERS WHO SUFFERED AND DIED
FOR CHRIST
WRITTEN BY THE HANDS OF THOSE THE FULNESS OF WHOSE
SPIRIT AND EXAMPLE THEIR SUCCESSORS MOST
WORTHILY INHERIT, IS REVERENTLY
AND GRATEFULLY OFFERED
BY THE EDITOR

THE BEGINNING AND PROGRESS OF THE MONASTERY
OF CONSECRATED VIRGINS OF THE ENGLISH NATION
OF THE ORDER OF CANONESSES REGULAR UNDER THE
RULE OF ST AUGUSTINE, DEDICATED TO THE CONCEP-
TION OF OUR BLESSED LADY THE MOTHER OF GOD,
AND TO ST MONICA, AND SEATED IN THE TOWN OF
LOUVAIN, IN BRABANT, A PROVINCE OF THE LOW
COUNTRIES

WRITTEN BY ONE OF THE RELIGIOUS OF THE SAME

MONASTERY ; DEDUCTED FROM THE BEGINNING OF

ENGLISH WOMEN DEDICATED TO GOD, FIRST IN THE

CLOISTER OF ST URSULA'S IN THE SAME TOWN

{TitU in MS.)

HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION

Towards the close of the reign of EHzabeth, and in the
earlier years of James I., a large number of English ladies,
whose families had remained loyal to the ancient Faith,
despairing of being able to enjoy the happiness of religious
life in their own country, betook themselves to the com-
munities established on the Continent. In due course they
opened convents and founded communities for their own
countrywomen. These communities weathered the storms
of war and revolution in their continental homes, and the
greater part of them have, during the nineteenth century,
returned to England. The example had been set by the
Bridgettines of Syon, the only English community that
has preserved its continuity with the pre-reformation days.
But the Benedictine nuns of Brussels, now at East
Bergholt, date from 1598 ; those of Teignmouth, Stan-
brook, Oulton, Colwich, which has a filiation at Atherstone,
were all founded during the era of persecution ; Princethorpe,
likewise an ancient community, is not of English origin.
The Franciscan nuns of Taunton are the community
founded at Brussels in 1621 ; the Poor Clares of Darling-
ton were founded at Gravelines in 1609. The Daughters
of St Teresa at Lanherne and Darlington represent the

communities of Antwerp and Lierre, founded respectively
ix a 2

X HISTOKICAL INTRODUCTION

in 1 619 and 1648. The Dominicanesses, now at Carisbrooke,
were founded at Vilvorde in 1661.

The English Canonesses Regular of St Augustine,
now at St Augustine's Priory, Newton Abbot, are the
community that was founded at Louvain, in 1609. They
were a colony from the Flemish community of St Ursula's
in that city. English nuns had been received at St Ursula's
in considerable numbers for a good many years previously,
amongst their Flemish sisters; in 1606 there were twenty-
two English nuns in the convent, and six had already died
there, the monastery having been governed by an English
Prioress, Mother Margaret Clement, for thirty-eight years
before that date. Sister Elizabeth Woodford, though
professed in England, had entered at Louvain about 1548.
So that although the foundation of the Benedictine house
at Brussels precedes that of St Monica's at Louvain by
eleven years, yet it would seem that after the Bridgettines,
the earliest impulse of devout English ladies in the
days of persecution led them to the Canonesses of St
Augustine.

Among the many benefits for which we are indebted to
these noble communities, we must number the preservation
of their priceless Chronicles. These touching annals,
besides preserving the record of the long list of heroic
families to whom we owe it that the lamp of the sanctuary
was never extinguished in our country, let us into the
innermost thoug^hts and feelino-s of Catholics in those dark
days of persecution, and cannot be read without deepening
in our hearts the spirit of faith. Second to none in this
respect are the records that remain to us of the community
of St Monica's of Louvain. They consist : first, of the
Life of Mother Margaret Clement, and second, the
Chronicle of St Monicas. Large extracts from them were

HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION xi

made by Father John Morris, S.J., in his Troubles of
otir Forefathers. First Series. By the kindness of the
nuns of St Augustine's community, I am allowed to give
for the first time their Chronicle to the public in its entirety,
only omitting a very few pages which the chronicler would
never have wished to be made public. These two
principal volumes of records are supplemented by other
precious manuscripts, such as the Obit Book and Bene-
factors' Book, the Stafford and Townley Letters, and the
like, in the possession of the community.

St Monica's of Louvain, as already remarked, was
founded in 1609, and is now at Newton Abbot. In 1629
was established the community of Bruges, a filiation from
Louvain, still flourishing in their old home. The com-
munity at Hayward's Heath is a filiation from Bruges,
and the one at Hoddesdon in Hertfordshire, from Newton
Abbot, both dating from 1 886. The community of English
Canonesses at Neuilly was founded at Paris in 1633.
When Father Morris wrote his Preface, to which I am
indebted for some details, three houses existed of English
Canonesses of St Augustine ; there are now five. The
Canonesses of the Holy Sepulchre at New Hall represent
the foundation made at Liege in 16 16.

The present volume contains that portion of the
Chronicle which opens with Sister Elizabeth Woodford's
expulsion from Burnham at the dissolution, and goes on to
the beginning of the reign of Charles I. It is about half
the manuscript volume. It is supplemented from the Life
of Mother Margaret Clement, a manuscript of eighty-seven
pages, written by Sister Elizabeth Shirley, sister of Sir
George Shirley, Bart., of Shirley in Leicestershire. The
Chronicle is a volume of upwards of six hundred pages,
and at its beginning repeats a small portion of what is

xii HISTORICAL INTEODUCTION

contained in the Life of Mother Margaret. The spelling
will be modernised throughout.

The text of the Chronicle has no divisions except the
indication of dates. But it has been here for conven-
ience divided into sections or chapters, to each of which
has been prefixed an historical introduction. The
object of these introductions has been simply to continue
and extend the work of the chronicler. Her expressly
avowed intention was to collect and commit to writing
what she could learn from her sisters of their family con-
nections and descent, and the sufferings of their relatives
for the Catholic Faith. Hence it comes to pass that the
scene lies oftener in the Catholic homes of England than
in the Flemish convent, and the monastic chronicle has
become a help of untold value to give light to the story of
those days of suffering. My object has been to add further
and ampler details to these historical sketches and give
more fully the edifying records of our old Catholic families,
since the sum of these records, if it could be given in full,
would be the true inner history of Catholic life in
England.

To carry out such a purpose would have been impos-
sible, but for the labours of such writers as Abbot Gasquet,
Fathers Morris, Gerard, Pollen, and Brother Foley, S.J.;
of Father Knox of the Oratory, and Father Bridgett,
C.S.S.R. Mr Gillow's Dictionary of Catholic Biography
is, of course, indispensable to guide one in researches into
Catholic history since the Reformation. But besides these
and besides non-Catholic writers, an invaluable source of
information has been put at my disposal in the manuscript
records of the Benedictine nuns of Teignmouth and the
Bridgettines of Syon at Chudleigh. While the Chronicle
was being edited in the little Bridgettine periodical, called

HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION xiii

the Poor Souls Friend, issued by the Syon community
and widely circulated, I received much assistance from
many quarters, and more especially from Mr Joseph Gillow,
Mr R. D. Radcliffe, F.S.A. and the Hon. Mrs Stapleton,
in addition to the untiring labour of a religious of St
Augustine's Priory. To them, and to the Lady Abbess
of Teignmouth, the Lady Abbess of Syon, and the
Reverend Mother Prioress of St Augustine's, our deepest
gratitude is due.

But it is of the Chronicle itself, and its value to Catholic
history, especially in conjunction with other manuscript
records of the Louvain Canonesses, that most account
must be made. Those records contain many facts of
interest, unrecorded elsewhere, and are our sole authority
for some of the most striking episodes in our Catholic
history. Thus, as an example of the former, we learn
concerning the parents of the celebrated Widow Wiseman,
that her father was a Vaughan, her mother a Tudor, and
that she was harbouring a countryman of her own in the
person of the Welsh Franciscan martyr. Venerable Griffith
Jones. The Louvain Chronicle is our sole authority for
the touching story of the secret visit of Margaret Clement,
nde Giggs, to the Blessed Carthusian martyrs in Newgate
prison, which will be found in the first chapter.

This is, however, but one of a great number of events
on details in the history of persecution which would be
unknown to us save for the Louvain chronicler. If our
historical prefaces have succeeded in illustrating, to a small
extent, her priceless annals, they will not have been useless.
Here and there some obscure matters have been cleared
up, as in the history of the Forsters or Fosters of York-
shire, where the Syon annals have contributed a chapter to
the history of persecution, and revealed the sufferings of a

xiv HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION

hitherto almost unknown martyr, whose remains lie buried
at the feet of Blessed Thomas Percy in an undiscovered
tomb in the city of York.

Since writing the preface to the first chapter of the
Chronicle some light has been obtained on the family of
the saintly Margaret Clement just referred to. The
chronicler only informs us that she was "a gentleman's
daughter of Norfolk." In the Norfolk Visitations of 1563,
1589, and 1613, we find the Gyggs family, seated at
Burnham, St Clement, and elsewhere in that county, con-
nected by marriage with those of Deane, Hoo, Paston,
Russell, and Clere. As there was also a Norfolk family of
the name Clement, it is likely that John Clement, the
father of our first Prioress, was a Norfolk man.

It only remains for me to protest my complete submis-
sion to the decrees of the Holy See wherever I have given
to anyone in the course of this volume the praise of sanctity
or martyrdom, or related any occurrence which may appear
supernatural.

ADAM HAMILTON, O.S.B.

BucKFAST Abbey,
Feast of St Scholastica, 1904.

PAGE

CONTENTS

PREFACE TO CHAPTER THE FIRST

Burnham Abbey, suppressed in 1539. Sister Elizabeth Woodford and
the Clement family. The Carthusian martyrs and Margaret
Clement. Her vision of the martyrs round her deathbed. Other
relatives of Blessed Thomas More. Queen Mary's grant, restoring
their estates. St Ursula's at Louvain. First English vocations.
Margaret Clement the younger. Shirleys, Rookwoods, and Aliens.

CHAPTER I

From the arrival of Sister Elizabeth Clement at St Ursula's in Louvain

to the resignation of Mother Margaret Clement, 1 548-1606 . . 24

PREFACE TO CHAPTER THE SECOND

The Chaplains of St Monica's. The Revv. John Fenn, Stephen Barnes,
John Bolt ; the Rev. John Redman, D.D. The Wisemans of
Braddocks. The Vaughans of Courtfield . . . .39

CHAPTER H

From the resignation o^ Mother Margaret Clement to the foundation of

a separate English community at St Monica's, 1606-1609 . • 5°

XV

xvi CONTENTS

PREFACE TO CHAPTER THE THIRD

PAOS

A Novice from Queen Elizabeth's Court. The Mother of the Maids of
Honour. The Copleys of Gatton. Anthony Copley. The Gages
of Firle. The Throckmorton family. Catholic gaiety amid perse-
cutions. Sister Shirley's MS. Beautiful death of Mother Margaret
Clement. " Let me do as the swan doth, sing you a song before my
death" • . . . . . . 86

CHAPTER HI

From the opening of St Monica's to the death of Mother Margaret

Clement, 1609-1612 ....... 102

PREFACE TO CHAPTER THE FOURTH

A group of Catholic families under the Stuarts, Cliffords, Thimelbys,
and Astons. Sir Thomas Lucy ("Justice Shallow") and his
descendants. William Blundell, "the Cavalier." The Lords
Windsor of Bradenham. The Rev. John Bolt. Queen Elizabeth's
Chapel. Thomas, Earl of Southampton, and his sisters. The
families of Pounde and Brittan . . . . • .125

CHAPTER IV

From the arrival at St Monica's of the Rev. John Bolt to the death of

Sister Elizabeth Dumford, 1613-1618 ..... 150

PREFACE TO CHAPTER THE FIFTH

The Stonehouse and Hansom families. Cruelty of the President of the
North. Elizabeth Foster, a hitherto unknown martyr. The Syon
Chronicle. The Fosters or Forsters of Yorkshire. Sir Richard
Forster and the Pontoise MSS. The Lawsons of Brough. The
Balthorpes, The haunted walk of Huddington House, The
Winters and their fellow-conspirators. Sister Mary Winter. A
place of martyrdom outside Worcester identified . . .165

CHAPTER V

From the profession of Sisters Stonehouse and Lawson to that of Sister
Grace Babthorpe and her grandchild. Sister Frances Babthorpe,
with the history of the Babthorpes, Brookes, and Gouldings, 16 18-
1621 ......... 187

CONTENTS xvii

PREFACE TO CHAPTER THE SIXTH

PAOK

The Cloptons and Shakespeare's Country. Baron Carew of Clopton.
The ancient homes of the Fortescues in South Devon. Blessed
Adrian Fortescue and his descendants. The Plowdens of Plowden.
Edmund Plowden. The Constables of Flamborough and Evering-
ham. The Lords Herries. Abbess Constable, O.S.B. In the
Church of Everingham, 15th February 1904 . . . .214

CHAPTER VI

From the commencement of building St Monica's Church, in 1622, to
the death of Sister Susan Layburn, " the Martyr's Daughter," bring-
ing the Chronicle to the beginning of the year 1625 . . . 237

Index

267

Pedigrees ^tend

Woodford— Clement— Tremayne— Wiseman of Braddocks— Worth-
ington of Blainscow— Allen of Rossall— Barony of Hoo— Copley
— Clopton — Giffard

Arrest

Letter of Ven. William Howard, Viscount Stafford.
Written to his Daughter, a Nun at St Monica's, the Day before
his Execution ....

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

William Howard, Viscount Stafford. Beheaded on Tower

Hill, 29th December 1680 . .... Facing title

The Canonical Order . . . . . - » p. x

Order of Queen Mary in Council in 1553, for Restoration
OF Estates to Dr Clement and William Rastell.
Showing Autographs of Members of the Council . . j i

Address on Queen Mary's Order for Restoration of
Lands to Dr Clement and William Rastell. With
Mem. (reversed) in Dr Clement's Handwriting . . • „ 15

Mrs WORTHINGTON (Mary Allen), Mother of the Two Sisters
Worthington, and Niece to Cardinal Allen. From painting in
the possession of Joseph Gillow, Esq. . . . . 21

Letter of Ven. William Howard, Viscount Stafford.
Written to his Daughter, a Nun at St Monica's, after his

32

46

Deed in Flemish of St Ursula's, Louvain. Showing the only
Copy known to exist of the Seal of that Monastery, wherein
Mother Margaret Clement made her Profession, and of which
she was the Prioress ... ct

CUTHBERT TUNSTALL, BiSHOP OF DURHAM . . . „ 70

The FOUR Sisters Tunstall, Canonesses, O.S.A. Daughters
of Francis Tunstall of Wycliflfe, and of Cecily Constable,
daughter of John, Viscount Dunbar . . . . „ 86

Monstrance given to St Monica's Community by Throck-
morton Family, 1660. Now at St Augustine's Priory, Newton
Abbot ,,94

Reliquary, containing Hair-Shirt of Blessed Thomas

More. Preserved at St Augustine's Priory . . . „ 102

Lady Margaret Radcliffe. Daughter of Francis Radcliffe,
first Earl of Derwentwater, wife of Sir Philip Constable of
Everingham, Bart. . . . . . . no

xix

XX LIST OF ILLUSTKATIONS

St Augustine's Priory. (Front View. South) . . Facing p. 125

Church of the Holy Ghost, St Augustine's Priory, Newton

Abbot, S. Devon . . . • • • • » 15°

Lady Lucy Herbert. Sister of Winifred, Countess of Nithsdale.

Prioress of Augustinian Nuns at Bruges ; died 1744 . . „ I75

Plowden Hall . . • • • • . „ 221

Seventeenth Century Vestments. A Gift to St Monica's by

the Plowden Family. Now at St Augustine's Priory . . „ 225

Sister Anne Constable (of Everingham). Daughter of Sir
Marmaduke Constable of Everingham, Bart., and Anne Sher-
borne of Stonyhurst . . • • • • » 234

William, fifth Earl of Nithsdale. (Attainted) . . „ 240

Lady Catherine Stewart. Wife of William Maxwell of Niths-
dale ,,250

Lady Winifred Herbert. Daughter of the Marquis of Powis,

Countessof William, fifth Earl of Nithsdale . . . » 256

Eighteenth Century Vestments. A Gift to St Monica's by

the Earl of Derwentwater. Now at St Augustine's Priory . „ 263

The Canonical Order.

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

PREFACE TO CHAPTER THE FIRST

Burnham Abbey, suppressed in 1539. Sister Elizabeth Woodford
and the Clement family. The Carthusian martyrs and Margaret
Clement. Her vision of the martyrs round her deathbed. Other
relatives of Blessed Thomas More. Queen Mary's grant, restoring their
estates. St Ursula's at Louvain. First English vocations. Margaret
Clement the younger. Shirleys, Rookwoods, and Aliens.

Not far from Farnham Royal, in the south of Buckingham-
shire, may be seen some remains of Burnham Abbey, a
house of Augustinian Canonesses Regular, dedicated to
the Blessed Virgin. Richard, King of the Romans,
brother to Henry H I. of England, founded a monastery here
in 1265 for a small community of nuns. The neighbouring
manors of Burnham and Beaconsfield belonged to the
Scudamores, a connection not without interest to our history.
In the autumn of 1539 the work of suppressing the religious
houses in England was nearing its close, and on the 19th
of September, Sister Alice Baldwin, Abbess of Burnham,
surrendered her house to the Royal Commissioners. Their
report bore witness to the blameless life of the sisterhood,
who had all petitioned to be allowed to end their days in
some monastic house ; and the monastery and its estates
were certified to be in good condition, and free from debt.
The nuns were, of course, turned out upon the world.
Their last days in the cloister must have been inexpress-
ibly sad, for, three years before. Abbess Margaret Gibson

1 A

2 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

had signed an acknowledgment of the royal supremacy, in
the vain hope of preserving her convent. The sorrowful
memory of her fall was no doubt one reason why one of
her nuns used to exhort her sisters in exile, that if ever they
returned to live in England, "they should not again admit
Abbesses in the Order," a counsel they still observe. The
name of this good sister was Elizabeth Woodford, and as
she was to be the link connecting at least four communities
of English Canonesses with their sisters of the old days
of Catholic England, it is with her that our eventful story
opens.

Sister Elizabeth, mentioned in the Heralds Visitation
of Buckinghamshire as " Elizabeth, a noon " (a nun), was
the daughter of Sir Robert Woodford of Brightwell, in
Burnham parish, and of his wife Alice, daughter and heiress
of Thomas Gate of Brightwell. Her father's family had
come from Leicestershire, but, as in the days of Henry \\\.
a Wiltshire Knight, Sir William Woodford of Woodford,
bore the same arms as are assigned by the Heralds to
Sister Elizabeth's father, and these are identical with the
arms of the house of Cantelupe, I doubt if the Woodfords
of Burnham were originally from Leicestershire. On the
2nd of October the nuns of Burnham would of course keep
the Feast of St Thomas Cantelupe, whose head was
enshrined by the son of their own founder, Edmund, Earl
of Cornwall, at Asheridge, in this same county of Bucking-
ham, and St Thomas's father was Lord of Woodford.
Born in the neighbourhood, Sister Elizabeth had known
the quiet cloister and the white-robed sisters from infancy,
and perhaps they had part in her education ; and on the
Feast of the Immaculate Conception, in 15 19, she pro-
nounced her vows before the altar of our Lady of Burnham.
In 1518 I find another Sister Elizabeth Woodford, perhaps
a relative, the senior of fifty-six nuns in the Bridgettine
Monastery of Syon.

When the Commissioners had set their seals on the
doors of Burnham Abbey, Sister Elizabeth's first place of

CHKONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 3

refuge would be in her paternal home, under the protection
of her brother Thomas. He was the father of twelve
children, and she did not remain long in his household, but
went to live privately in the family of an illustrious con-
fessor of the faith, Dr John Clement, who had married,
thirteen years before, Margaret Giggs, "a gentleman's
daughter of Norfolk," the adopted daughter of Blessed
Thomas More. Dr Clement was then practising medicine
in Essex, living probably at Marshfoot, in the parish of
Hornchurch. The accession of Edward VI. destroyed the
hopes of many Catholics. Dr Clement and his family
removed to Louvain, and there, in 1548, Elizabeth Wood-
ford entered a monastery of her own Order, St Ursula's of
Louvain. She had already superintended the education
of Margaret, Dr Clement's little daughter, who was to
follow her to Louvain, and to be the first mother of the
community now at Newton Abbot in Devon.

Very wonderfully has the history of this community
been interwoven with that of our English martyrs and
confessors. The hair-shirt of Blessed Thomas More is
one of their most treasured heirlooms, and for a time they
possessed his rosary. Here I must go back a while, and
insert from Sister Shirley's MS. a portion of the life of
this Margaret Clement, which is more slightly touched
upon in the Chronicle of St Monicas : —

" She was born of very holy and devout parents ; her
father a doctor of physic, her mother a very holy woman,
as may appear in her acts, amongst all which, one is worthy
of memory, which I have heard our holy Mother often to
relate, and others also that had known her in times past.

" In England the persecution being very great, especially
(of) the Charterhouse monks, who then were in prison and
cruelly handled, and afterwards martyred for the true faith ;
which when she did understand, bearing a singular devo-
tion unto that holy Order, and moved with great compas-
sion of these holy fathers, dealt with the gaoler that she
might secretly have access unto them, and withal did win

4 CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

him with money, that he was content to let her come into
the prison unto them, attiring and disguising herself as a
milkmaid, with a great pail upon her head, full of meat,
wherewith she fed the blessed company, putting meat into
their mouths, they being tied and not able to stir, nor to
help themselves ; which being done, she afterwards with
her own hands made them clean. This pious work did
she continue for divers days, until at last the King inquir-
ing of them if they were not yet dead, and understanding
they were yet alive, to his great admiration, commanded a
stricter watch to be kept over them, so as the keeper durst
not let in this good woman no more, fearing it might cost
him his head if it should be discovered. Nevertheless what
with her importunity and by force of money, she obtained
of him that he let her go up to the tiles, right above the
close prison, where the Blessed Fathers were. O rare
example and courage of a woman ! And so she discovering
(uncovering) the ceiling or tiles over their heads, by a string
let them down meat in a basket, approaching the same as
well as she could to their mouths, as they did stand chained
against the posts ; but they not being able to feed them-
selves out of the basket, or very little, and the gaoler fear-
ing very much that it should be perceived in the end, wholly
refused to let her come any more. And so, soon after they
languished and pined away, one after another, what with
the stench and want of food and other miseries which they
there endured. And because God of His goodness leaveth
no good work unrewarded, especially such an heroic act as
this was of this devout woman, I have thought good, to
God's greater honour and glory, and her perpetual memory,
to set down her life.

"She was brought up in the family of Sir Thomas
More, Lord Chancellor of England, who, perceiving a
singular inclination in her to virtue and learning, and that
she was of a rare spirit, thought it good to bring her up
with his own daughter, Mistress Margaret Roper, most
dearly beloved of him, and so taught them both himself

CHKONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 5

both Greek and Latin ; he excelling in both, as is well
known. And he did so trust this our good grandmother —
for so I may call her, she being the mother of our most
holy Mother Margaret Clement — that she always provided
him of all his devotions and secret penances of disciplines
and hair - cloths which he did wear continually in the
Tower of London, until the day that he was to go to his
martyrdom, and then he sent it her again enclosed in a
casket, because none but she should be privy to his devo-
tions. She also having been married out of his own house
to Mr John Clement, of whom he also made great account
for his learning and skill in the aforesaid two languages,
Greek and Latin, a rare thing in those days, they lived
most virtuously in wedlock together. And being blessed
with many children, he honoured them, being godfather
unto their son, giving him his own name, Thomas, and
sending him his blessing before he went to suffer ; who
soon after came to end his life in our monastery in the
father house (the chaplain's house). She did also teach
her daughters both Greek and Latin, and did bring them
up in such virtue and fear of God that two of them forsook
the world and went to religion, the one being a Poor Clare,
the other our most dear and holy Mother. But the times
growing dciily worse and worse in England, from schism to
heresy in King Edward the Sixth's days ; this good married
couple thought it best with Lot to depart from Sodom, and
so betaking themselves to voluntary exile, left their own
country, livings and rents, and with Abraham seeking only
to serve God, they being the first family that came over to
the Low Country, with all their household and children.
Their first abode was at Bruges, from whence after some
short time they removed to Mechlin, and there continued
for some few years in all exercises of piety, visiting and
frequenting the services of the Church, in such sort as her
husband, Mr Clement, would never fail, though being well
threescore years of age, to go every day to Matins in the
Cathedral Church, winter and summer, and there sung the

6 CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

psalms with the canons, to the great edification and
admiration of them all. And his wife frequented Masses
all the morning long. She had an especial great devotion
to the anthem of Corpus Christi, so as she would never
fail to be at it, and would have her children to do the like.
Their house was a harbour of all priests, who daily resorted
thither for relief, and also for comfort in their banishment
for religion, which they passed with great joy, constancy,
and cheerfulness of heart for God's cause, animating all
others to the like.

" But the time now being come, which God had
appointed to reward His handmaid for her aforesaid good
works done unto the Fathers of the Charterhouse ; He
visited her with an ague, which held her nine or ten days ;
and having brought her very low and into danger, she
received all the Sacraments with great devotion. And
beino- desirous to grive her blessincr unto her children, who
were all then present except her religious daughters, and
one more that remained at Bruges with her husband, she
caused her to be sent for in haste. But she not being able
to come so speedily, Wednesday being now come, which
was the day before she died, and asking if her daughter
were come, and being told : No, but that they looked for
her every hour ; she made answer, that she would not stay
no longer for her. And calling her husband, she told him
that' her time of departure was now come, and that she
might stay no longer, for that there were standing about
her bed the Reverend Fathers, monks of the Charter-
house, whom she had relieved in prison in England, that
did call upon her to come away to them, and that therefore
she could stay no longer, because they did expect her ;
which seemed a strange tale to him. Doubting she might
speak idly by reason of her sickness, he called her ghostly
father, a reverend father of the Franciscans, then living in
Mechlin, to examine her, and talk to her. To whom she
constantly made answer : that she was no way beside
herself, but declared that she had still sight of these

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 7

Charterhouse Monks before her, standing about her bed-
side and inviting her to come away with them, as she had
told her husband ; at which they were all astonished.

" The next day, being Thursday, in the morning she
called for her son Thomas, and willed him that he should
take care that her apparel should be made ready, for by
God's grace she would not fail that day to go to Corpus
Christi anthem. Which he, taking to be spoken of distrac-
tion, and comforting her the best he could, to put this out
of her head ; she replied that by God's grace she would
not fail of her purpose, and that therefore all things should
be in readiness. And so it fell out that she from that hour,
drawing more and more to her end, as soon as the bell of
St Rumold's began to toll to the anthem of Corpus Christi,
she gave up her happy soul into the hands of God, showing
to have foretold the hour of her death, and that she departed
with that blessed company to Heaven, who had so long
expected to be partakers of their glory, as no doubt she is,
*' Her body was buried in the Cathedral Church of St
Rumold, behind the High Altar, before the memory of
Our Blessed Saviour lying in his grave, where also her
husband was laid by her side within two years after. To
return again to my purpose ; for this was but to relate that
those holy martyrs whom she had so carefully assisted
would come to fetch her at her last end. Which so
happened, for at her very departure she did see all those holy
Carthusians in their habit, perfectly appear before her,
which with a smiling countenance she expressed to those
who were about her, so that it was admirable to the
beholders."

The story of the Carthusian martyrs is one of the most
thrilling episodes of the period. It has been told by one
of their brethren, Father Maurice Chauncey. Here I can
only recall the order of events. The proto-martyrs of the
Protestant Reformation were : Blessed John Houghton,
Prior of the London Charterhouse ; Blessed Robert
Lawrence, Prior of Beauvale ; and Blessed Augustine

8 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

Webster, Prior of Axholme, Carthusians ; and with them
Blessed Richard Reynolds, monk of Syon, and Blessed
John Hale, Vicar of Isleworth. They were put to death
with indescribable barbarity on 4th May 1535. Three
other Carthusians, BB. William Exmew, Humphrey
Middlemore, and Sebastian Newdigate, died the same
heroic death on the 19th of June, in the same year. For
a fortnight before their death, they were bound to posts or
columns by means of chains round their necks and thighs,
without ever being released a single moment for any
necessity whatever. Blessed John Rochester and Blessed
James Walworth were hanged in chains at York on nth
May 1537.

In the same year, 1537, about the end of May, ten more
Carthusians were dragged from their convent, and com-
mitted to Newgate Prison. It was this last band who were
visited in their prison by the adopted daughter of Blessed
Thomas More, as related in the writings we are now about
for the first time to publish in full. The names of the ten
were : Blessed Richard Bere, Blessed Thomas Johnson, and
Blessed Thomas Green, priests ; Blessed John Davy,
deacon; and BB. William Greenwood, Thomas Scryven,
Robert Salt, Walter Pierson, Thomas Redyng, and William
Home, lay-brothers. All but Blessed William Horn, who
was executed at Tyburn some years later, died of starva-
tion within a few weeks. Their hands were bound behind
them to the walls of their dungeon, and the insupportable
stench and filth of their prison increased their intolerable
sufferings. Six were already dead within about a fortnight
of their committal to Newgate, as we learn from a letter of
Bedyll to Cromwell, from which I transcribe a few lines : —

" My very good Lord,

"After my most hearty commendations, it shall
please your lordship to understand that the monks of the
Charterhouse here in London, who were committed to
Newgate for traitorous behaviour, long time continued,

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 9

ao-ainst the King's grace, be almost despatched by the hand
of God ; as it may appear to you by this bill enclosed.
Whereof, considering their behaviour and the whole matter,
I am not sorry, but would that all such as love not the
King's Highness and his worldly honour were in the like
case. . . . From London the 14th day of June.
" By your lordships at commandment.

"Thomas Bedyll."

"There be departed. Brother William Greenwood, Dan
John Davy, Brother Walter Pierson, Dan Thomas Greene.
There be even at the point of death, Brother Thomas
Scryven, Brother Thomas Redyng. There be sick, Dan
Thomas Johnson, Brother William Hall. One is whole,
Dan Bere."

Dan is simply the old English way of rendering the
Domnus or Dom usually prefixed to the names of Benedictine
and Carthusian choir-monks, just as Sir was in pre-
Reformation times used before the names of secular priests.
The " Brothers " named in the above list were of course
lay-brothers of the Charterhouse. All have received the
title of Blessed by decree of Pope Leo XHL, 9th December
1886.

To the above touching narrative I may add a few words
concerning Dr John Clement, the father of the first
Prioress of St Monica's. From St Paul's School he had
been taken by Blessed Thomas More into his household,
and while continuing his studies, acted as tutor to More's
children. " I entertain no slight hope," writes his patron
to Erasmus, " that he will be an ornament to his country
and to letters." And indeed he was. At Oxford he was
Cardinal Wolsey's Reader of Rhetoric, and afterwards
Professor of Greek. Having chosen the medical profes-
sion, we find him sent by Henry VHI. to attend Wolsey
in his sickness at Esher, and in 1544 he was President of
the College of Physicians. He and his wife shared to the
full the heroic devotedness to the Catholic Faith that

10 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

Blessed Thomas instilled into those among whom he lived.
Twice an exile for religion, "he died," writes Anthony a
Wood, "at Mechlin in Brabant, the ist day of July in
1572, and was buried near to the Tabernacle in St
Rumbold's Church there, and close to the grave of his
sometime beloved wife Margaret, who died 6th July 1570;
I mean that Margaret on whose marriage with John
Clement, the antiquarian poet (Leland) hath bestowed a
song." He was one out of sixteen Catholics who were
excepted from the general pardon granted at the close of
the Parliament of 1552, among whom were also Blessed
John Story, afterwards martyr, and William Rastell.

William Rastell married Winifred, our Prioress's sister,
daughter of John Clement and Margaret Giggs. He was
a nephew of Blessed Thomas More, being the son of
John Rastell and Elizabeth More. Both the Rastells
excelled in learning, and in zeal for the confession of the
Faith. Like John Clement, William Rastell, who in
Mary's reign was sergeant-at-law, and one of the Justices
of the Common Pleas, went twice into exile for his
religion. "A most eminent lawyer, and a grand zealot
for the Roman Catholic religion," says the author of the
Athence Oxonienses, "he died at Louvain, 27th August
1565 ; whereupon his body was buried within the Church
of St Peter there, in the right hand of the Altar of the
Virgin Mary, near to the body of Winifred his wife, who
was buried there in July 1553."

Of these two saintly and learned men, her father and
brother-in-law. Mother Margaret Clement left as a precious
memento to her daughters, which they still preserve, an
original grant of Queen Mary, which orders the restitution
of their lands and goods to Dr Clement and William
Rastell. We have reproduced it as an illustration to
this volume, and its appended signatures, of Bishops
Gardiner and Tunstall, of the Duke of Norfolk, of Richard
Southwell, father to the martyr, of Sir William Petre and
the rest, give it additional interest. It runs as follows : —

r'^STTTT^

j,^ -*,»Vd4vA TW«»i«<X»«0~^.-4^'*^ ^

CZ^'--"'

Eatvv

■^

i; I \ r r>r

Order of Queen Mary in Council in 1553, for Restor.a.tion of Estates
TO Dr Clement and William Rasthll. Showing Autographs of Members
of the Council.

Photographed from the Original at St Augustine's Priory.

[Face page 11,

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 11

"To our lovinge frends, Sir William Carill, Knight,
Dr Hill, physician, John Piers, clerk of the check, John
White, Alderman of London, Robert Warner, gent.,
Francis Stele Cragge, and Robert Smyth ; and to all others
to whome it appertaineth, and to every of them : —

"After our hartie commendacions, the Queen's High-
ness understanding by informacion of Doctor Clement and
William Rastell beinge returned into their natyve countrie,
from whence they were dryven to flee for conscience sake
about foure yeres paste without any offence comitted on
their behalf, and being eftsoons restored by the Queen's
especial goodness to the full possession of all their lands
and goods ; that ye have presently divers parcells of the
same in your hands : her Highness hath therefore willed
us straightly to comande and charge ye, and every of ye
to whom this matter appertaineth, further, upon the sight
of these our letters to make surrender and redelyverie of
the same landes and goods and every parcell thereof, unto
the said Dr Clement and William Rastell, as reason and
equite persuadeth every man to enjoy his owne : And
hereof not to faile as ye tender her Highness pleasure and
will answer for the same, at your severall perills. From St
James, the 24th Sept. 1553. Your lovinge frends,
(Signed) Ste . Winton . Cancell. J. Bedford. Thomas
Norfolk. Ormonde. F. Shrewsbury. John Bathon . &
W. Cuth. Duresme. B. Buyx. Edward Hastings."

That Mother Margaret Clement's sixty years of
cloistered life should have aided powerfully to perpetuate
among her sisters the spirit of our earliest martyrs, and
especially of Blessed Thomas More, need not be said.
But for the moment we must return to Sister Elizabeth
Woodford. She was destined to enjoy the peace of
religious life in the quiet Flemish convent for twenty-
four years, till her death in 1572. On this convent, to
which the communities of Newton Abbot, Bruges,
Hoddesdon, and Hayward's Heath look back as to their
cradle, a few words will suffice.

12 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

It was in 141 5, the year in which our own King Henry
V. made his royal foundation of Syon Abbey, that a noble
Flemish lady, Elizabeth de Wesele, founded in the Mi
Rue, of Louvain, a community of Canonesses under the
title of St Ursula's Monastery. Martin V. confirmed the
erection, requiring that they should be enclosed and wear
the black veil. Their foundress and her husband had
been benefactors of the illustrious Congregation of Canons
Regular, known as the Congregation of Windesem, or the
Brothers of Common Life, which at that date was in its
full vigour, and a century later numbered 120 houses of
Canons and not a few of Canonesses, in Belgium and
Germany alone. Its history has often been told, and will
be written again, by abler pens than mine. A nun of that
Congregation was placed at the head of St Ursula's com-
munity, and the spirit of such saintly men as Gerard Groot
and Thomas a Kempis, with the largeness of mind, the
simplicity and austerity, and the noble traditions of
Windesem, formed the spirit of the infant community of
St Ursula's, which, in 151 5, finally embraced the Windesem
rule. The Congregation of Windesem, which from its
association towards the end of the sixteenth century with that
of the Lateran Canons, became known as the Congregatio
Laterano- Windesemensis, was overwhelmed by the storms
of the Revolution, and the last of the religious is said to
have died in 18 16. But it survives in spirit and discipline
among our English nuns through their descent from the
sisters of St Ursula's of Louvain.

Though most of the story of Mother Margaret
Clement's life is told by the chronicler, yet we must find
space for a few extracts from Sister Shirley, relating to the
days of her early youth : —

" She had another of her own sisters, that was also in
the monastery, whom she loved very much. This sister
could not give herself to any mortified life in religion,
wherefore she was daily at her sister, to go with her out of
the monastery, for that as she thought it was impossible

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 13

they could go forward in that hard Hfe, having been so
tenderly brought up in their father's house. But God
Almighty so strengthened this His handmaid, that no
small temptation could withdraw her from her firm purpose
of serving God Almighty, although she loved her sister
exceedingly. Whereupon she herself made suit to her
parents to take her home, for that she perceived she pined
away with discontent of mind, and so her sister was sent
for away. Then had she so great contentment and love to
the place, that although her friends would gladly have had
her away in Queen Mary's days to be professed in England,
she refused it, and wrote unto them again, that if they
would permit her to remain there, they must get her a
husband which as she told me she minded not (did not
mean seriously) although she seemed to say so, to fear
(alarm) her parents. Her father showed her letter to
Bishop Bonner, who, upon the reading thereof, persuaded
him by no means to take her out, for he knew not what
God had foreseen therein, whereupon he ceased to molest
her any more, although they had provided a place for
her at St Bridget's, and also made her a cell. I cannot
omit to tell here the providence of God towards her,
for not long after the same Monastery of St Bridget,
where she should have been placed, was wholly dispersed
and dissolved, so that the religious were fain to seek for
themselves, by reason of the death of Queen Mary."

One little expression in Sister Shirley's book needs
explaining. Margaret, on account of her devout simplicity,
used to be called in her family "God Almighty's fool."
The playful expression is not an irreverent one, and is an
allusion to the old custom of having a fool or jester in a
great man's household.

The circumstances attending her election as Prioress of
St Ursula's are told at length in the Chronicle. One charac-
teristic incident we may here insert from Sister Shirley, as
it relates to the heroic Mrs Allen, Cardinal Allen's sister-
in-law, whose two daughters were among our Canonesses : —

14 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

" One of the English sisters being very sick and at the
point of death, her own mother (Mrs Allen) dwelling in
the town, hearing her daughter to be in such danger, came
to our monastery to desire our Mother that she might
come in to see her sick daugher ; the Mother flatly denied
her, because, she said, it would be a breach of the
enclosure, and she would not do it, by no means, without
special leave from the Archbishop. This she said, hoping
thereby she would have been answered, but the motherly
heart would not be so contented, but went to the Bishop
herself, and obtained of him licence to go in to the
monastery to visit her daughter, which she brought to our
Reverend Mother with the Bishop's hand and seal ; which
our Reverend Mother seeing, was somewhat troubled, that
either she must yield to such an inconvenience or hazard
the Archbishop's displeasure, yet of the two she rather
chose to presume upon the Bishop's goodness, than to
endanger the breaking of the enclosure. Wherefore she
took heart, and absolutely denied to accept of the Bishop's
commission, for that she said the Bishop was not suffi-
ciently informed concerning the state of the House, for we
being of two nations, Flemish and English, and she being
English that received this favour, the other nation that
had often desired the same, and had been denied, might
justly take exception thereof, and so breed some disgust
among us. Yet Mrs Allen, not being content, went again
to the Archbishop, and complained that she could not be
admitted to come into the monastery, notwithstanding that
she had brought with her the Bishop's licence. The Bishop
having heard her complaint, gave her no other answer
than, smiling, said : ' I am sorry I have so few such
Superiors, I would to God I had more of them.' And this
was all the amends she could have of her complaint, as she
afterwards confessed to us herself; and thus we may see
how that worthy Prelate did greatly esteem of such strict-
ness in observance of enclosure."

Of her happy death we shall have more to add in its

C/-

f ' A '

^^^--^j ^^^^ "cA^"^ ^t""^ ^

A3DRESS ON yCHEN MaRV S UKliKR FOR RESTORATION OF LANDS TO 1 )R LEhMh.NT AND

William RasTELL. With Mem. (reversed) in Dr Clement's Handwriting.
Photographed from Original at St AugustirK;'s Priory.

[Face page 15.

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 15

proper place. Following the example of our chronicler, it
will now be my task to further illustrate the Chronicle by-
some account of those Catholic families whose dauo^hters
were numbered among our Canonesses.

From the year of our Lord 1548, when Sister Elizabeth
Woodford, professed in England in 15 19, entered St
Ursula's Monastery at Louvain, down to the beginning of
this twentieth century, the community whose annals we are
editing has numbered 393 professed religious. In this
number, besides Elizabeth Woodford herself, we include
the 25 English who took their vows at St Ursula's while
Mother Margaret Clement was Prioress ; 157 professed at
St Monica's, Louvain, between 1609 ^^id 1794; and iii
more professed at Spetisbury or Newton Abbot since
their return to England.

The first Englishwoman to follow Margaret Clement
to St Ursula's, Sister Catharine Pigott, died during her
noviceship. There is no record of her parentage, though
the name occurs among the English Catholic exiles then
serving in the King of Spain's army in the Low Countries.
Francis Bygod, whose name sometimes appears as Pigot,
a Yorkshireman, was executed at Tyburn for his share in
the Pilgrimage of Grace, in 1537. She died in 1613, and
ten years were to elapse before another English candidate
presented herself for admission into the community. This
was Sister Grace Neville, usually spelt Nevell in those
days.*

Blessed Thomas Percy, Earl of Northumberland, and
Charles Neville, Earl of Westmoreland, had led the second
Pilgrimage of Grace. The savage butchery of the defence-
less Catholics which followed on the dispersion of their
forces, was urged on by Elizabeth with a ferocity that
sickened even the fierce Earl of Sussex. Many Catholics
escaped with their families to the Low Countries. A paper
in the Public Record Office, written in 1575, for the
information of the Government, gives the names of such
* See Foley's Records^ S.J., vol. i., p. 220.

16 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

exiles as were living then on pensions from the King of
Spain. Besides the names of Tempest, Norton, Dacres,
Markenfield, and others, conspicuous in the insurrection,
we find the Countess of Northumberland, the attainted
Earl of Westmoreland, Christopher Nevell (Neville) the
Earl's uncle, and Mr John Nevell, living with his wife at
Brussels. This " Mr John Nevell, gentleman," appears in
the " Dirge-book " of our community, which contains the
obituaries of the nuns, of their parents and the chief bene-
factors, whose anniversaries are to be kept. Sister Grace
Neville is in all probability John Neville's daughter. There
is a Sister Mary Neville in the list of the Syon nuns, and,
at a later date, a Lady Abbess Neville of Pontoise, When
our English nuns left St Ursula's for their new foundation
of St Monica's, they took with them "one vestment of a
kind of gold tissue, with a crimson velvet cross, which had
been given Sister Grace Neville." Catharine Neville (Lady
Gray), the Earl's daughter, was in prison for harbouring
priests, as we learn from a letter of Toby Matthew,
Protestant Archbishop of Durham.

Only in 1593, ten years after the death of Sister Grace
Neville, did another English postulant arrive. Sister
Frances Felton. Besides the two martyrs. Blessed John
Felton and his son Thomas, we find, in 1561, among the
Fleet prisoners with Lady Hubblethorne, Anthony
Poole, Thomas Large, and William Aldwin, George Felton,
imprisoned "for the Mass." In a State Paper of 1578,
George Felton petitions for his release, " having a wife
and eleven children dependent on him."

From the days of Elizabeth to those of Gates's Plot, our
community, as we have said, was closely associated with
the English martyrs and confessors. One wonders what
must have been the daily converse of the heroic daughters
of Catholic England who lived and prayed together in the
quiet Flemish cloister. Looking round the stalls of the
choir in the year 1600, one would have seen there Anne
Clitherow, the daughter of Venerable Margaret, the gentle

CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 17

martyr of York ; Margaret and Helen Garnett, sisters to
the martyred Provincial of the English Jesuits, and whose
nephew was one of our venerable martyrs ; Susan Laburn,
or Laybourne, one of whose childish reminiscences was her
visit to her father, the martyred James Laybourne, as he
lay in chains awaiting his execution ; Ann and Dorothy
Rookwood, in whose saintly family fines and the dungeon
were household words ; Bridget and Mary Wiseman, whose
parents had been condemned to death for harbouring
priests ; Frances Burrows, who at eleven years of age,
though threatened with instant death, had saved a hunted
priest from the pursuivants ; Helen and Catharine Allen,
nieces to the great Cardinal, and whose mother had barely
escaped with life from the persecutors ; and other noble
ladies of scarcely less illustrious history. The long heroic
line, after Margaret Clement, is headed by Sisters Grace
Neville and Frances Felton. That the latter was a near
relative of the holy martyrs. Blessed John Felton the
Elizabethan proto-martyr, and his son Venerable Thomas
Felton, I have little doubt, though I have not yet been
able to trace out her history. The company I have
described were really gathered together in St Ursula's at
Louvain in the closing years of the sixteenth century. There
are few nobler pictures in the annals of religious communi-
ties than that of those brave old days of this illustrious
English House of cloistered religious.

Although it was in 1569 that the community of St
Ursula's elected Margaret Clement for their Prioress — an
act that redounds alike to her honour and that of the
fourscore Flemish sisters — yet the tide of English vocations
only set in with the arrival of Sister Felton. Between
1593 and 1606, twenty-five English fadies were professed,
whose family histories would furnish a large part of the
Catholic annals of that period. My task is only to
supplement and complete that undertaken by the chronicler,
as indicated by herself in the following passage : —

"This history hath been faithfully written, upon the

B

18 CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

relation of the persons themselves, concerning their parents
and their own coming and calling to holy religion, and,
for the more surety, after the writing, it was again shown
to the same persons, that they might see whether all was
right written and nothing mistaken."

With these words the chronicler of St Monica's opens
her record, and they give us the secret of its marvellous
interest to English Catholics. The honoured names of
Allen, Clitheroe, Clement, Roper, Wiseman, Neville, Gage,
Blundell, Vaughan, Jerningham, Arundell, Garnett, Rook-
wood, Copley, Shirley, Babthorpe, Clifford, Tichborne,
and a hundred others, pass before us, as we turn over its
pages, with many a story of calm heroism and quaint
humour even, to light up the annals of their confessorship
and martyrdom. From the lips of the sisters and daughters
of those illustrious houses we gather the story of how their
fathers and brothers fought, and suffered, and died for the
faith of our Fathers.

Though not first in order of profession, we may well
introduce here Sister Elizabeth Shirley, the authoress of
the Life of Mother Margaret Cle7nent. Sister Elizabeth
made her profession in 1596, and died in 1641. She was
the daughter of Sir John Shirley, and sister of Sir George
Shirley, Bart., of Shirley in Leicestershire. But it does
not seem that the Shirleys were originally a Leicestershire
family. Their first home was at Ettington in Warwick-
shire, where we find a James Shirley in the reign of Henry
III. His grandson. Sir Thomas Shirley, in the reign of
Richard H., married a daughter of the Bassets of Drayton.
A descendant of Sir Thomas, Sir Ralph Shirley, was
created a knight-banneret for his distinguished gallantry
at the battle of StoT^e, a.d. 141 7. Sir George Shirley,
his oreat-gfrandson, was created a baronet in 161 1, and
from him was descended Sir Robert Shirley, the first Earl
Ferrers. This Sir George Shirley, Bart., was the brother
of Sister Elizabeth Shirley. The original Saxon name of
the family was Sewal.

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 19

Father Morris, in his Condition of Catholics tinder
James /., gives a letter of Father Gerard, S.J., in which
occurs the following passage: — ** At the Monastery of St
Monica's my cousin Shirley hath requested my coming
thither for these three or four months, to bestow one
afternoon upon her and some younger nuns whom she
hath charge of, that they may all together ask me what
spiritual questions they may like best ; but I have never
yet found a fit time for it." In a letter of Father Henry
Garnett, the martyr, given in Foley's Recoj'ds, and
addressed to Sister Elizabeth Shirley (Father Garnett's
sister was a nun of this community), he writes as to an old
acquaintance : — "All your friends are well, and salute you" ;
he then gives her an account of a singular escape from the
persecutors : " We kept Corpus Christi day with great
solemnity and music, and the day of the Octave made a
solemn procession about a great garden, the house being
watched, which we knew not till the next day, when we
departed, twenty-five in the sight of all, in several parties,
leaving half a dozen servants behind, et sic evasimus manus
eorum in nomine Domini."

Sister Elizabeth's brother. Sir George, of Harold
Staunton, and his two sons, Henry and Thomas, assisted
our community with frequent gifts, and Sir George left her
a legacy at his death. The names of these three appear
in an indenture among the State Papers, dated loth May
1615, "between Sir George Shirley, of Staunton- Harrold,
Co. Leicester, Bart., and Henry and Thomas Shirley, his
sons, and Robert, Earl of Essex, for settling a jointure on
Lady Dorothy Devereux, second sister of the said Earl,
on her marriage with Henry Shirley." Sir George married
Frances, daughter of Henry, Lord Berkely. In youth a
devout Catholic, he yielded for a time to temptation. By
the Government he had been considered a recusant, and
was proceeded against accordingly. But a letter from Sir
Thomas Edmondes to Sir George Lake, dated from Paris,
1 6th March 16 13, states, that " Sir George Shirley is much

20 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

troubled that his armour lately has been taken out of his
house in Northamptonshire, on pretext of his being a
recusant. He is not one ; has always kept a preacher, and
been diligent as a Justice of the Peace in administering ^the
oath of allegiance." It is consoling to know from one of
his descendants that "he died in the bosom of his mother,
the Roman Catholic Church." His anniversary is kept
by our Canonesses. His son Henry followed his father's
example, both in his fall and in his return to the faith.
Sir Thomas, the eldest son, a man of firmer mould, is
described by the same writer as "a violent and bigoted
Roman Catholic, whose estates in Hunts, Oxfordshire,
Gloucestershire, and Warwick had all passed away from
the family before the Restoration," presumably by fines
and confiscation. Henry Shirley, the son of Sir Thomas,
after suffering imprisonment for the faith before his
eighteenth year, entered the English College in Rome in
1640. He was born at Callowden Castle in Warwickshire.
Sister Elizabeth Shirley died ist September 1641,
"endued with many virtues, a strict observer of the Order,
and very zealous in the keeping up of holy religion."

Besides Foley's Records, Mr Evelyn Shirley's Stemmata
Shirleiana, with the Dirge-book and Benefactors' Book of
the community, throw much light on the family history of
the Shirleys. A few notes on some other sisters professed
at St Ursula's before the English nuns formed a separate
community, must close the introduction to our first chapter.
The two sisters Allen, nieces to Cardinal Allen, come
next in order, of whom Helen was professed in 1594, and
Catharine 1595, of whose heroic mother we have already
made mention.

She was the daughter of William Westby, Esq., of
Westby, in Yorkshire, and was married to George Allen
of Rosshall, in the County of Lancaster, brother to
Cardinal Allen. They had four children : John, born in
1565, died at Mussipont in 1585; Helen and Catharine,
both nuns at St Ursula's, with whom we shall meet in the

Mrs Worthington (Mary Allen).

Mother of the two Sisters Worthington.

/''/•"»( (I. Ptiiiiliag in the pi)s$r:>sinn »/ Jij.<(ph HU.htw, Eaq.

[lacf page 21.

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 21

Chronicle ; and Mary, who married Thomas Worthington
of Blainscough, Co. Lancaster, and who died at Louvain
in 1619. Concerning Mrs Allen, Father Parsons, S.J.,
writes from Paris to the Rector of the English Colleo-e,
Rome, on 28th September 1584 (Foley's Records, vol. i.,

p- ^zi)'-—

" She is the sister of the Rev. Mr Allen, the President
of our seminary at Rheims — that is to say, the relict of his
deceased brother, a respectable and holy woman, who
harboured Catholics in her house and gave herself up wholly
to works of piety, but now, turned out and spoiled of all
her property, in company of her two maiden daughters,
whom she rescued by stealth from the hands of the heretics
(for the heretics had carried them off, as they are wont to
do, to be corrupted in mind and body). After many
dangers by sea and land, she reached this country poor
and wan, but glad of soul ; and so she went to Allen. This
holy widow, after the plunder of all her property, was
searched for all through England for torture, for it was
thought that she might give some news of her brother
Allen. And when the heretics thought that they had
found his likeness (it was not so in fact, but the portrait of
an heretical man), it may readily be believed how savagely
they rushed upon it, piercing it with their swords, daggers,
and knives, out of hatred and contempt for Allen. Now
this I had from the lady herself."

In a letter preserved in the Public Record Office, dated
from St Ursula's, and addressed to Father Coniers, S.J.,
Helen Allen writes : — "Our Reverend Mother would have
written to you if she had not been so weak at this present.
She commends herself to your good devotions, and also
my sister Catharine. Good Father, pray for our Reverend
Mother, that God will spare her Hfe long, if it be His
good Will. She is very sickly." (Foley, vol. iii., p.
210.)

Concerning Anne Clitherow and Susan Laybourne, I
must find room for a few lines. The latter was the dauofhter

22 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

of James Laybourne, martyred at Lancaster, 22nd March
1583. His name was omitted by Challoner from his Hst
of martyrs, because he denied Elizabeth's right to the
throne of England. But he appears as a martyr in the
English Martyrologe, by Rev. John Wilson, published
in 1608, and he is rightly reckoned as such, together with
Blessed John Felton and others who equally denied
Elizabeth's title, by Sander, Yepez, and other writers, as
well as by Father Pollen, S.J., in his Acts of English
Martyrs, The last-named author gives the history of
his martyrdom. He was first cousin to Anne, Countess
of Arundel, wife of Venerable Philip Howard, and was
himself the head of an ancient family at Cunswick and
Skelsmergh, in Westmoreland. From this account, I
should say the stout old North Country squire was wont
to express himself concerning Elizabeth's vices in terms
more truthful than polite.

Anne Clitherow, to whom the Venerable Margaret,
before her cruel martyrdom by pressing to death, sent her
worsted hose and shoes as a warning that she should walk
in her mother's footsteps, had herself suffered imprisonment
for the faith in Lancaster jail. Though the Rev. Mr
Mush's Life of Margaret Clitherow was not published in
English till the middle of the nineteenth century, there is
in the library of the Convent at Newton Abbot a little
printed book by an anonymous writer, who had access to
Mush's MS., which he had abridged. It is entitled, "An
abstracte of the Life and Martirdome of Mistress Margaret
Clitherowe, who suffered in the year of our Lorde 1586,
the 25th of March. At Mechline, 1619." The dedication
of the book is, " To the virtuous and devout religious
Sister, Sister Ann Clitheroe, of the Order of St Augustin,
at Louvain " ; and the dedicatory preface ends with the
words, "And so, being ready to serve you in anything, I
will take my leave, and will begin the Life and Martirdome
of your mother." Anne was twelve years old when her
mother won her crown ; was released from prison at the

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 23

age of eighteen (it is not clear when she was committed) ;
and three years afterwards escaped from England, entering
St Ursula's in 1596.

Sisters Dorothy and Anne Rookwood, a name associated
with Cecil's Powder Plot, belong to this period. Sister
Dorothy Rookwood died in 1606, soon after her brother
Ambrose had been executed for complicity in the Gun-
powder Plot against James I., and it is a strange coin-
cidence that ninety years later another Ambrose Rookwood
suffered death on the same charge of high treason, for his
loyalty to James II. In Foley's Records I find a list (in
which there are some mistakes) of the members of this
devout family, who in times of persecution consecrated
themselves to God in the religious or ecclesiastical state.
In the Stanningfield branch, to which Sisters Anne and
Dorothy belonged, his list, corrected, gives one Benedictine
monk, one Augustinian, and two Franciscan friars, five
Poor Clares, and two of our Canonesses ; while in the
younger branch of the Euston Rookwoods the most
illustrious is Edward Rookwood, who entertained Queen
Elizabeth at his house, and was forthwith hurried off to
jail for his faith, and released only by death, his house and
land being sold to relieve the distress of his family, who
were beggared by ruinous fines. It is significant that in
this and other communities of this time we meet with the
names of Catesby, Tresham, Rookwood, Winter, Wright,
and others, near relations of the Gunpowder Plot con-
spirators ; but of all those cruelly oppressed and misguided
gentlemen, the most beloved and regretted was the gentle
Rookwood. Whatever his guilt, it was atoned for by a
holy deaUi ; and as everyone knows, or ought to know
nowadays, the guiltiness of Rookwood and his companions
cannot be compared to the fiendish crime of Cecil, the real
instigator of the whole affair.

CHAPTER I

From the Arrival of Sister Elizabeth Clement at St Ursula's in
LouvAiN TO the Resignation of Mother Margaret Clement,
1 548- 1 606,

The Beginning and Progress of the Monastery of Consecrated Virgins
of the English nation, of the Order of Canonesses Regular, under the
Rule of St Augustine, dedicated to the Conception of Our Blessed Lady
the Mother of God, and to Saint Monica, and seated in the town of
Louvain, in Brabant, a Province of the Low Countries.

Written hy one of the same Monastery ; deducted from the beginning of Englishwomen
dedicated to God, first in the cloister of St Ursula* s in the same town.

This history hath been faithfully written upon the relation
of the persons themselves concerning their parents and
their own coming and calling to holy religion, and for the
more surety, after the writing it was again showed to the
same persons, that they might see whether all was right
written and nothing mistaken ; this being the first draught
of the history which reacheth unto full fifty years from the
cloister's erection, but beginneth above fifty years before,
from all the Eno^Hsh that beofan it.

In the year of our Lord 1548, under the reign of King
Edward the Sixth of that name, religious houses being
pulled down, and religious persons, both men and women,
thrust out to lead their lives in great dangers of the world,
and the face of the Church of England turned to heresy,
Elizabeth Woodford, leaving her native soil, who before
had left the world by religious profession, came into
Brabant, and offering herself to the Monastery of St
Ursula's in Louvain, of the same Order of St Augustine

24

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 25

that she was, there to end her Hfe in religious observance,
as she had vowed, and was graciously received. And, in
the year 1551, Margaret Clement, as yet but a girl, was
presented by her parents to the same monastery, there
to be brought up in piety and godliness. This Margaret
was daughter to one Mr John Clement, whose constancy,
and his wife's also, was so great in the Catholic Faith, that
twice they undertook voluntary banishment out of the
Kingdom of England, once under the reign of King Edward,
and again under Queen Elizabeth, and at length both he
and his wife died in banishment.

To this man had Almighty God left one only son, a
grave man and well learned, but four daughters, all which
he brought up in learning, both of the Latin and Greek
tongue, and drew them with himself and his wife out of
that schismatical kingdom ; and two of his daughters he
espoused to Christ, in Louvain, the one, called Dorothy, in
the Order of Poor Clares, the other, named Margaret, as is
said, he placed at St Ursula's. The wife of this Mr
Clement was also a very pious woman, excellently well
learned both in the Greek and Latin tongue, and was
brought up in the house of Sir Thomas More as his child,
and he used to call her daughter. Her name was Margaret
Giggs, a gentleman's daughter of Norfolk, and very virtu-
ous, for by that good education she gained great fortitude
of mind, and learned much charity, which she afterwards
showed in a singular manner by visiting and relieving the
necessities of those good Carthusians, which being in prison
suffered extreme misery. For which her charity she
deserved to be again visited by them after their death and
martyrdom, for when this Margaret lay in her deathbed,
behold those holy Carthusians to whom before she had
shown her charity, came and appeared to her in their habit
as they lived in the world, and said that they came to
conduct her soul to heaven. And as she was a relief to
them in their sufferings, so were they a comfort to her at her
death, who had found such means to help them when they

26 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

were chained two together in prison and could not stir.
She, disguising herself like a poor woman, got means to
bring them meat, and to cleanse them in that filthy dungeon
by bringing them clean linen to comfort them. These,
therefore, so good and holy parents of hers, as they were
charitable to others, and pious towards God, so were they
solicitous in the education of their children ; and one of
their daughters, named Dorothy, being of sufficient years
to make election of her state, according to her desire, they
dedicated unto God in the Order of St Clare. This other,
called Margaret, being as yet but young, they placed, as is
said, in the Monastery of St Ursula's, that she might learn
there the form of good life and religious conversation.
And although this no doubt was done by the special Provi-
dence of God, who saith that a sparrow falls not on the
ground without His special disposition, yet were there not
wanting forcible reasons also to incite these good parents
thereunto, for great was the fame of this monastery for the
education of children. Besides, Elizabeth Woodford, as
we have said, was there, a religious of the English nation,
much esteemed of the Prioress and of the other religious,
and well known to this Mr Clement. For, being cast out
of her monastery in England at the suppression of religious
houses, until her coming over into these parts she had lived
privately in his house, for which cause he assured himself
she would take care of his young daughter.

In the meantime a great alteration happened in the realm
of England, for in the year 1553 King Edward died, being
but sixteen years of age and in the seventh year of his
reign, and the good Queen Mary was set up in his place
according to her right of blood. Things falling out thus
prosperously for the Catholic cause, those who before were
fled through the storms of persecution into other countries,
now, to enjoy the blessings of their own native soil, came
home again. Of whose company was our Mr Clement
with his wife and family, yet he left their daughter Margaret
in the cloister of St Ursula, although she was not professed,

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 27

nor yet had taken the habit of religion. But afterward he
was not unmindful of her ; desiring she should also be made
partaker of divine benedictions in our country, he thought
to call her home, and to that end sent to her divers letters,
but could never prevail with her to be willing to return.
For although she was but young, and in respect of worldly
wisdom accounted but simple of her parents ; yet the
Divine Providence directing her interiorly, or we know not
what other motive compelling her, she could not be induced
by any reason to return into her country. Yet would she
not flatly withstand her parents, but wrote unto them to
delay the time, at first by urging unto them her earnest
desire of religion ; and her good father would not be want-
ing to further her in so pious a desire, but keeping still
his intention to have her come back, procured her a place
among the religious of St Bridget's Order, and imparted
so much by letters unto this his daughter, who perceived
that she could not by this means bring about her desire,
her father intending one thing and she another, he to have
her home, and she to remain still in that monastery which
she liked so well. She bethought herself of another device,
which was to write unto her father as if she had altered her
mind, that if he would have her home, he would please to
provide her a husband. This tempered her father's impor-
tunity and delayed his endeavour so long, till, things being
changed again in England, the good man with his family
undertook again his second banishment.

And so it happened that in the year 1557, upon the
nth October, our said Margaret Clement was admitted to
religious profession, after she had been five years scholar
and one year and a half novice. One year of probation
had been sufficient according to the Constitution of the
House, but the importunity of her father to have her into
England was the cause of this her so long delay. And
this her long probation was the more beneficial unto her,
by reason that she did not one jot the less carefully apply
herself to gain the perfection of a religious life, but it was

28 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

a testimony that she had gotten already what some pro-
fessed rehgious do not in many years attain unto, for, being
proved by delay, her constancy and settled mind in God,
and love to religious life did the more manifestly appear in
her. By many ways was this servant of God at that time
proved, and proof did show that iniquity was not found in
her, for being as it were tried in the fire, she was not con-
sumed like wood, but as gold became more pure.

Then was also in the same house, as hath been said,
Elizabeth Woodford, who, although she was not her
mistress, yet she out of love to her, for gratitude to her
parents, of whom she had received the benefit to harbour in
their house after she was thrust out of her monastery in
England, and for the zeal of religious perfection which she
desired might be renewed again in this young plant ; being
herself a very strict observer of regular discipline, did well
exercise our Margaret therein, and giving many mortifica-
tions, insomuch that she was accounted of the other
religious in the House hard or cruel unto her. And they
did not keep that opinion only to themselves, but would
sometimes declare the same out of pity unto this young
Margaret, and would sometimes ask of her how she could
with patience bear such trials of one that had no charge
at all of her. But she, showing well her humility, answer-
ing again that the hardness of her own nature did require
it, she also said that she found by experience tribulation
did give understanding, and did help towards the spiritual
profit of a soul, and give her matter of a meditation and to
lift up her mind to God. Truly, if we consider the trials
which happened unto her in her life afterwards, we may
see that this was not without the particular Providence
of Almighty God, for to dispose her to greater matters,
and was a means to bring her unto greater perfection, and
she gained so much profit hereby, that some years after
her profession she was chosen Mother Prioress and
Superior of the Cloister, though of another nation.

For in the year of our Lord 1569, the Prioress of St

CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 29

Ursula's Monastery, being very old and incapable to
govern any longer, with leave of the Superior resigned
her office, and this English religious. Sister Margaret
Clement, was chosen to be the Superior of almost four-
score persons — she young and many of them old, she of
another nation than they. And, another having as many
votes in the election as she, wanting but one, it made a
great contention in the House, yet the Superiors dealt
according to justice, and so her side prevailed. But the
others sent to Rome and appealed to the Pope, who then
ordained two Commissioners, great, learned, and prudent
men, who, hearing and examining the case, should in his
name compose the strife. The adverse part urged against
Margaret her young age, for she was not above thirty
years old ; they pleaded also the difference of her nation,
being an Englishwoman, and they Dutch, and some other
frivolous objections. Which the Commissioners hearing,
and finding nothing else of greater importance, they com-
manded the religious upon their conscience to speak freely
if they knew anything of her that made her unfit for
government, but when they perceived no other cause on
her part, but her zeal of religious reformation and strict
observance of regular discipline, they commended her highly
for it, and confirmed her in her office, establishing her with
greater authority than perhaps any of her predecessors had
before, inducing all to give their obedience unto her.

This new Prioress was a diligent observer of the Order,
and well instructed and exercised in the perfection of virtue ;
the old nun. Sister Elizabeth Woodford, having disposed
her thereunto, as hath been said. And, first, she sought
to bring in strict enclosure, for as yet the nuns used some-
times to make banquets and invite their worldly friends.
Also sometimes they made comedies and plays in the
monastery, and their friends came to see them. But this
good Mother reformed all this at convenient time; with
discretion made iron grates to be set up covered with black
cloth, and only one grate to be opened, by the Superior or

30 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

whom she appointed. Also, she made such portresses as
should not any more let in worldly people. Although some,
who loved liberty, misliked this, yet very many were glad
thereof, seeing themselves freed from much distraction, and
(able) to serve God now quietly, attending to virtue and
their religious duties. Many great crosses did this good
Prioress undergo with a strong courage and a great con-
fidence in God, as may be seen in her life, written by Sister
Elizabeth Shirley, unto which we refer such as desire to
know it more particularly. Only, in this place we will
briefly touch some of the many tribulations which she
passed.

The Prince of Orange, then, revolting and joining with
heretics, the wars began in these countries, and one time
there was a rumour spread in the town that the enemies
were gotten in, and were killing the people in the streets.
Whereupon, the Father of the cloister came in, when they
were all in the choir, and exhorted them to constancy,
saying : Precious in the sight of our Lord is the death
of His Saints ; and that they should now imitate their
Patroness, St Ursula, and her virgins. But as at that time
one of the virgins hid herself for fear, so now also one went
from the rest and hid herself in some corner of the house.
But the good Mother found her out, and wished her rather
to keep with the rest, because they would not dare to
attempt such wickedness when they were all together as if
they found any alone. She also exhorted them all to put
their whole confidence in God, who never forsakes them
that trust in Him. But soon after this came news again,
that all was but a false rumour, and no such matter as
was related, frighting all with a false alarm. Besides this,
they were also troubled with the garrisons of soldiers,
which were to be maintained in the town, whereunto they
also must contribute, although they were in want them-
selves. The country about being wasted by the soldiers,
things were at an excessive rate.

Another tribulation she had in her time, to wit, an

CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 31

inundation of waters, which upon a sudden came and filled
all the low rooms of the monastery, and the religious
were enforced to keep above in the higher rooms. By
this so sudden an inundation they suffered much loss in
their victuals and provision, so as they had not meat and
drink to refresh themselves. Besides that, the wall of the
monastery was broken down by the force of the water, so
that, the enclosure being down, any might come in. But
the worthy Prioress took such good order, that their
enclosure was soon made fast again, though they were not
able to build up the wall, for they suffered such want so
that the Mother was forced to go into Antwerp and other
towns to get relief for her poor monastery. For they were
glad to take the parings of turnips which their neighbours
gave them, wanting other food to suffice nature.

After this she suffered another great misery, for, the
plague being in the town, her cloister came also to be
infected, and there died, both within and without, in the
Father's house about twenty persons, and the good
Mother's grief was then, that she could not help and assist
them at their death. Yet nevertheless she did what she
could, and would go to the window of the place where they
lay, and give them many good admonitions. It happened
at length that one was infected, of whose sanctity she had
more esteem than the rest, and after her usual pious dis-
course she desired and also commanded her, so far as she
might, that when she came to heaven, she would implore
the goodness of God to withdraw His hand from the
monastery, which the good religious promised her to do ;
and the effect showed that our Lord heard her prayers,
for after this time no more died of that disease, though
some were infected. These and other miseries did this
good Mother suffer for the space of more than twenty
years, not receiving all this time scarce any but very few
persons, and accounted herself a barren Mother.

In the year 1570, upon the 25th day of October,
died the old nun, Elizabeth Woodford. She was a sub-

32 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

stantial woman, and a strict observer of religion, although
somewhat severe, as they used in old time to be towards
youth in England. She had been professed fifty-three
years, twenty-four of which she lived in St Ursula's
Monastery, and the other years in England, she being pro-
fessed there upon the day of our Blessed Lady's Conception,
in the year 15 19. She was of so good a judgment, that
the Prioress of St Ursula's would often ask her council
and follow her advice in matters of moment. She would
sometimes advise the young nun, Sister Margaret Clement,
that if ever she came into England, they should not admit
of Abbesses in this Order, for the great abuses that she
had seen to enter into religion thereby, and would probably
be ao-ain introduced. But Prioresses were in England of
far better observance of the Order.

1573. Died, Sister Catharine Pigot, in the seventh
month of her noviceship, being received in this time of

misery.

1583. Died, Sister Grace Nevel (Neville), a professed
nun. But afterwards it pleased our Lord to comfort this
good Mother by sending her many happy children out of
England to be religious ; understanding there was an
English Prioress in the Monastery of St Ursula's, they did
willingly enter there to be under her government. In the
year of our Lord 1592, came two gentlewomen, Frances
Felton and Mary Best, and they were professed the year
after : also Mrs Allen, widow to Mr George Allen of
Rossall, in Lancashire, came over about this time, with her
three daughters. Two of them, Helen and Catharine, she
put into the monastery, and lived in this town many years
until her death. The youngest daughter. Mistress Mary,
married Mr Worthington of Barch (Blainsco), in Lancashire.

In the year 1593, came to religion two sisters, Mary
and Bridget Wiseman ; in the same year, Margaret Garnett,
sister to Father Henry Garnett, and Dorothy Rookwood.
The next year after was professed Sister Helen Allen, and
also an English lay-sister, Margaret Offspring. The next

'-i?^ (^£l-tuo(/ kk^r

^Nj^/tA^-cr ?h'm^ c^a^ pii ^^< '

/

Letter of Ven. William Howard, Viscount Stafford.

Written to his Daughter, a Nun at St Monica's, after his Airesu

Pholo<jraph>id from Ori'jinal at St Augustine's Prlonj.

[tnce pnge 'ii.

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 33

year were professed two nuns more, Sister Catharine Allen
and Sister Mary Wiseman ; and Sister Margaret Garnett
the same year, upon the 5th of June, as also Sister Dorothy
Rookwood with them. This year died one Ellen Deacon,
a scholar, but professed a white sister in her deathbed.
She should have been a nun if she had lived. Lucy Gage
died also a scholar, having been many years in the
monastery, put by her friends to live so, because she was
simple. The next year, 1596, was professed Sister Eliza-
beth Shirley, as also Sister Ann Rookwood. This year
entered the monastery Sister Anne Clitherow, daughter to
Mrs Clitherow, the proto-martyr of her sex in England,
who followed well her holy mother's virtuous steps, for she
was a very good religious, who set herself seriously to the
ways of perfection, and our sisters that came hither used to
praise her much, saying that she laboured well in the over-
coming of her nature and the practice of solid virtue. She
also by her own industry got the Latin tongue so well as
to understand it perfectly, which made all to wonder. She
also assisted Sister Elizabeth Shirley much in the erection
of this monastery, being very earnest in so good a work,
although she never came hither herself, because she wanted
friends to allow her means. Yet she was a good agent
therein by counsel and assisting of them. Being also con-
tented in her own monastery, she passed her life happily,
rejoicing to hear of our good progress and increase here ;
for we used commonly to send our scholars before their
clothing to see the English that remained there. For four
lived long there — Sister Felton, Sister Garnet, Sister
Clitherow, and Sister Rookwood.

In 1597 was professed Sister Helenor (Eleanor) Garnett,
sister to the other Garnett ; also Sister Frances Burro wes,
and Sister Catharine Tremain, with another Dutch novice ;
for some Dutch also entered after the miserable times. In
the year 1598 was professed Sister Frances Harbert
(Herbert), Sister Barbara Wilford, Sister Margaret
Tremain, Sister Elizabeth Dumford, Sister Anne

c

34 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

Clitherow, and Sister Frances Blase. In 1599 was
professed Sister Mary Welch, Sister Ann Brumfield,
Sister Susan Laborn. The year 1601 was professed
Sister Ann Tremain. And in the year 1603 died Sister
Catharine Tremain, a good religious, and fervent to do all
she could, coming to religion when she was in years ; (and)
Sister Helen Allen, a fervent religious, and very hard to
herself. All these did the good Mother receive out of
England, who by their portion did relieve the cloister, yet
not so well but that they fared hard enough still, as we
shall declare hereafter.

Anno Domini 1606, when this worthy Prioress, Mother
Margaret Clement, had now laudably governed the
Monastery of St Ursula's thirty-eight years, 'she was to
keep her jubilee of fifty years' profession. Wherefore she
procured of her nephew, Dr Clement, ten pounds sterling,
to make the feast and solemnity withal. There were at
that present living in the cloister some twenty-two English
religious, and six (were) dead, viz., two scholars, three
nuns, and one white sister, professed on her deathbed : for
she had received about thirty in all, besides English
gentlemen's children, to be brought up for awhile there.
This good mother took in her novice year for her jubilee,
according to the custom of our Order.

There was great joy and feast all the week, for she was
very well beloved of the religious, as her virtue deserved,
and they lived very peacefully under her government,
although they were of different nations, qualities, and
conditions, as gentlewomen and persons of mean degree ;
notwithstanding, there was such grace and virtue among
them that it plainly appeared God was there. For although
the House was very poor in temporal maintenance, yet the
Order was strictly observed, and the English, having been
brought up, most of them, tenderly and daintily in their
parents' or friends' houses, nevertheless for the love of
Christ unto whom they were espoused, did willingly accom-
modate themselves to the hard fare and simple diet of the

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 35

cloister, dressed after the Dutch manner, which indeed was
so very mean as to deserve to be recorded to posterity,
that we might know with what fervour our elders began to
serve God in holy religion.

Their bread was of coarse rye, their beer exceeding
small. Their ordinary fare was a mess of porridge made
of herbs called warremus, sodden together with water only,
and thereunto they added at dinner a little piece of black
beef, about the greatness of two fingers, and at night for
supper they had only a dish of some three or four little
pieces of mutton, sodden with broth, which was to pass a
table of ten nuns, to this was added bread and butter ;
nothing else. In Lent also, when they fasted, the fare was
very hard, for they had only a mess of porridge of the
Dutch fashion, half a herring or suchlike thing each one,
and some little portion of peas dressed with lamp oil.
Only, one day in the week, the Lord Mayor's wife of the
town gave the religious a dinner, of charity, and then they
had a portion of salt-fish about the bigness of three
fingers, with a little spoonful of salad oil, which was
accounted great cheer. For their collation at night, nothing
else but a piece of the foresaid black rye bread and small
beer. Only, one day in the week, each had a portion of
common gingerbread, of one finger's thickness.

The Mother herein assisted the English with the alms
and relief which their friends sent them, for they had each
a little loaf of wheat bread allowed them every week,
because some were sickly and could very hardly pass with
the rye bread. Also they had some oatmeal porridge made
for them, and the sick were assisted with what the house
could afford, which was very little. Besides this, their
labours in exterior works were hard for gentlewomen to
undergo, as washing of linsey-woolsey clothes, which were
to be beaten (as the manner is) in such sort that some of
the nuns were sore after the wash-day in all their limbs as
if they had been disjointed, besides the washing of linen
in ye, which fetched the skin off their fingers ; also they

36 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

helped to mould the great loaves of rye bread, weeded the
ways of the paved courts within the cloister, and swept the
house, every one as they were able and appointed to do by
obedience. Moreover, one or two of them were put into a
warehouse, (where) they had to weave linen in looms, which
was indeed a man's work, and very hard for tender, weak
women. All this notwithstanding, they passed with
alacrity of mind for the love of God, and would be as
merry with each other as if they had been in the world
amidst all dainties and pleasures ; also they assisted one
the other in their necessities with great love, so that what
poverty took away, charity supplied and made up. The
English nuns also, being young, helped the old Dutch
religious in their cells to go to bed, and, when they needed
it, made daily their beds with joy and humility for God's
sake, such as might in the world have been their chamber-
maids.

Moreover, the Order, as hath been said, was exactly
observed. They had not daily two hours of recreation, as
now we have, but only two days in the week, all the after-
noon, they had leave to speak kindly together at their work
in the work-chamber. But in the Lent and Advent they
had no time of recreation at all. The choir also was
heavy and painful, for they had no organ, until Sister
Mary Scidmoor (Skidmore, Scudamore) came, and so the
burthen of all the service lay upon their voices, and they
sang Matins very often. Besides this, the old Office was
longer and more painful than the Roman, which they took
on them, and they rose at midnight as we now do.

The good religious passing thus their days with fervour
of spirit, it pleased Almighty God now to release the
worthy Mother of her heavy charge, and give her some
time before her death to do Him service in another kind.
One day having kept chapter in the morning, as the
manner is, it being then broad day, she perceived her sight
was wholly gone, for she saw no light at all ; having some
time before lost the sight of one eye, the other was then

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 37

also become blind. Wherefore she said gravely to one of
the religious : It is now time for me to leave off keeping
chapter ; and soon after sent to inform the head Superiors,
to the grief of the whole convent, that she desired to be
released of her charge, by reason of her years and of this
accident. They being informed thereof, came Doctor
Jansonius, who had been before their Visitor, being
Commissary under the Bishop, and now having given over
the said office, he brought with him his successor in that
place, who was brother to the Sub- Prioress of the cloister.
They being come, the religious were all called by the bell
into the Chapter-house, as the custom is, and being there
assembled, they declared unto the congregation, that the
cause of their coming was to release the Mother of her
charge and office, and then called for her. She being
brought in by some that led her, coming before them,
humbly kneeled down, and would have prostrated herself,
but they would not permit her. Then they asked what
she desired. She answered, it was to be released of her
charge of government, for that she could not in conscience
any more perform the same, being become wholly blind.
The Visitors said again they were willing to grant her
desire for her own good, but were sorry for the loss that
all the convent should incur thereby. She replied that
there were enough who could do it much better. They
then absolved her of the office and charge, making the
sign of the cross, and requested that she would still assist
with her good counsel and advice as need required.

They also appointed she should keep her place next to
the Sub-Prioress, but she would in no case accept of it,
because there were some older than herself in profession,
which she was loath to take place of, therefore desired
earnestly she might keep the place which she had according
to her profession, as all the rest did ; so they condescended
to her modesty herein. But they ordained notwithstanding
that she should be one of the council sisters, which never
are above seven, and there being already the whole

38 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

number, she was very unwilling that any of them should be
put out for her. Whereupon they decreed there should be
eight as long as she lived, and then to keep the former
number as before. This shows how desirous they were
to have still her help and assistance. After this she was
led to her own place, as was assigned, with many a
weeping eye of the religious, especially the English, whose
hearts were in a heavy case, not knowing what alteration
might happen, and seeing what difficulties they sustained
by the poverty of the House, wherefore they began to
think it were best to choose an Englishwoman again for
Superior, that they might have relief from their own
nation.

PREFACE TO CHAPTER THE SECOND

The Chaplains of St Monica's. The Revv. John Fenn, Stephen
Barnes, John Bolt; the Rev. John Redman, D.D. The Wisemans of
Braddocks. The Vaughans of Courtfield.

The record of the chaplains of St Monica's has an
interest of its own, from the fact that they were men
trained in the school of persecution. Father Fenn, brother
to a venerable martyr, and who had been chaplain to Sir
William Stanley's regiment, was at St Ursula's as early as
1 60 1, became in 1609 the first chaplain of St Monica's,
and died in 161 5, on the Feast of St John the Evangelist.
" Having been a long time blind and decrepit, he lived a
true sincere man, one of the old stamp, and served God
faithfully, and our Lord rewarded him with an easy death,
and took him out of this life upon his patron's, St John's
day."

He was the eldest of three brothers, of Montacute, in
Somersetshire. His youngest brother, the Venerable James
Fenn, martyr, was a Fellow of Corpus Christi College,
Oxford, but was expelled from Oxford for his faith. He
married, and after his wife's death was ordained priest.
On 1 2th February 1574, he was, with four other priests,
executed at Tyburn ; his little daughter, Frances, having
received his blessing after he was bound on the hurdle at
the gate of the Tower. Robert, the second brother, also
a priest, was imprisoned in the Marshalsea, tortured, and
banished. John and Robert were both in their youth
choristers of Wells Cathedral, and both Fellows of New
College, Oxford, John having been previously educated at

30

40 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

Winchester School. In Elizabeth's reign, John Fenn was
deprived both of his fellowship and of the headmastership
of the school of St Edmundsbury. His most valuable
work was the Acts of the English Martyrs, written in
conjunction with Father John Gibbon, S.J., and incor-
porated into Bridgewater's Concertatio. For the nuns of
Syon he wrote a work called Spiritual Treatises collected
from English Writers. He also translated into English
the Catechism of the Council of Trent, the Life of St
Catharine of Siena, and various other works, and trans-
lated from Endish into Latin two of Cardinal Fisher's
works. He was ordained priest in Italy, where he studied
for four years, and returning thence to Flanders, was for
a time chaplain, as has been said, in Sir William Stanley's
regiment. The large part he had in the founding of St
Monica's is minutely related by the chronicler.

On 22nd October 161 1, the Rev. Stephen Barnes
arrived at St Monica's, and thenceforward for forty-two
years filled the office of chaplain till his death on ist
January 1653. He was born at Salisbury, admitted to
the English College in Rome in October 1596, and
ordained priest in 1601, at the age of twenty-one. In
May 1605, he went on the English Mission. In the
Louvain Records I read : " Being sent from thence
(Rome) priest and missionary into England, he spent four
years in the exercise of his functions, and four at Douay
College, where he was one while Procurator, then Con-
fessor, then Reader of Divinity." (In reality he passed
some time at Douay both before and after his missionary
life in England.) " He was a man of a very peaceful dis-
position, patient in suffering, conformable to the will of
God, and charitably turning all things to good. After he
had been nineteen years ghostly Father, feeling himself
grow in years, he procured to have a sociate to assist in
the masses, confessions, etc., to which end he procured
from Douay College Mr Richard Johnson {vere White),
priest and student, who came hither in May of the year

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 41

1630. He lies buried in the broad side of the cloister,
before St Nicholas's Altar, under a stone of about 3 feet
in length, for a greater he would not have."

The Rev. Stephen Barnes had some half-brothers of
the name of Barber. To one of these, Mr John Barber,
the writer of our MS. says, '■' he left a fair gold rincr, to
his wife a great gold cross and a jewel." To another of
his half-brothers, the Rev. Francis Barber, a priest at
Douay, he addressed the letter from which Bishop
Challoner copied the account of the capture and martyrdom
of the Venerable Eustachius White. The original of this
letter is in the possession of our Canonesses. I here sub-
join the first part of the letter, omitted by Challoner : —

"To the Rev. Mr Francis Barber, in the Enaflish
College at Douay.

" By the enclosed you may perceive I have received of
late a letter from our brother George. Although it were
long coming, it is dated from Winchester, where it seems
he then was. How to send him again I do not know but
by your means, and if you can send it by way of Winchester
or any other, I pray read it, seal it, and send it. The
contents were to certify me of my brother Simon's death,
and of his wife, and that there is something thereby fallen
into my hands, which if there be I do not know how to
claim unless I were present, being but for my life ; and if
I were present I could not appear, and therefore I must
account it lost. My answer to him by this you may
understand to be the same as before to my brother William,
which you sent. The copies of Mr Fortescue's letter I
have sent in to our Reverend Mother, with whom I could
not speak by reason of her sickness, and therefore what
she sayeth to it I know not." The letter is dated 22nd
December 1632, at which time Father Barnes had a
brother at Winchester. In 1598, Mr Robert Barnes, a
Hampshire recusant, was condemned to death for harbour-
ing the Venerable John Jones, O.S.B., who, according to
Father Pollen, is probably the author of the account of the

42 CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

martyrdom at Winchester of the Venerables John Slade
and Richard Bodey. Was the Rev. Stephen Barnes a
relative of this Mr Robert Barnes ? The latter was
pardoned and released in 1603, but in 1610 a "grant of
the recusancy of Robert Barnes " was made to one
Augustine Griggs.

Prioress Wiseman, in the year 161 3, welcomed to St
Monica s a holy priest and confessor of the faith whom
she must have known in childhood. The Rev. John Bolt
was born of good family, at Exeter, about 1563, and for his
musical skill in the service of the royal chapel was so high
in favour with Elizabeth, an excellent judge in such
matters, that when one day he was found to have dis-
appeared from Court, " she would have flung her slipper "
at the chapel-master's head for vexation, and even went
the length of offering to overlook his conversion and allow
him to remain a Catholic if he would return. He refused,
and for some time taught music in Catholic families — as at
Sir John Petre's at Thorndon, Mr Verney's in Warwick-
shire, etc., and was finally domiciled with the Wisemans
of Braddocks. Arrested in March 1593-4, with William
Wiseman, at the house in Golden Lane, and threatened by
Topcliffe with torture, he owed his life to the vigorous
intercession of the fair and frail Penelope Rich, one of the
many occasions that served to redeem in part her tarnished
fame, and earn for her the grace of a good death. In an
earlier MS. of our Chronicle, I find that after studying for
some years at St Omer's, he stayed three years with the
Benedictine Nuns at Brussels, " to help their music, which
hath been so famous " ; was persuaded by them to be a
priest, and was received as a novice at St Gregory's
Monastery. His health failing, he gave up the idea of
Benedictine life, and for a time lived as a secular priest in
the Cambray diocese. He had been ordained priest at
Douay College in 1605. His examination after his arrest
is specially interesting. He acknowledges as his own, and
in his own handwriting, a book bound in parchment, con-

CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 43

taining tHe Jesus Psalter (by Richard Whytford, monk of
Syon) ; also as his property a MS. poem (Father South-
well's) called St Peters Complaint, "but by whom written
he knoweth not, but borrowed it of Mr Wiseman " ; also
"a little paper book containing matter of Campion . . .
and that he wrote the same with his own hand, and copied
it out of another book which he borrowed of one Henry
Souche " ; as also a book called Why do I use my Paper,
Pen, and Ink ? by Father Henry Walpole. Of Father
Bolt's gifts of nature and grace, Father Gerard, who had
given him the spiritual exercises while at his Suffolk
residence, writes : " Great talents for music had won him
the warmest love of a very powerful man. He spurned
this love, and all worldly hopes, to attach himself to me, and
lent his ear to the counsel of Christ in the spiritual
exercises." On 3rd August 1640, Father Bolt ended
his long and chequered career, dying at St Monica's, after
having been for five years almost bedridden. Though
seventy-seven years old, " he looked yet young and fresh. . . .
He had always loved holy poverty, and served us here, in
the music and teaching our Sisters, twenty-eight years,
without taking any pension, contenting himself with only
meat and drink, and such clothes as we gave him," writes
the chronicler.

The Rev. John Redman, D.D., is mentioned in the
Chronicle, though he was not one of the chaplains, concern-
ing whom Mr Gillow has kindly sent the following details : —
" A native of Yorkshire, according to Dodd, but apparently
of the diocese of Chester, according to the Douay Diaries,
where there are two or more of the name about the same
period. He studied at Rheims and Douay, and was ordained
priest in 1549. He matriculated at the University in that
year, became B.D. in 1601, and subsequently D.D. He
left the University in 1601, in order to teach divinity in a
monastery of Regular Canons at Bethune. Afterwards, he
became a canon of the Cathedral of St Omer, where he
died, 29th September 161 7. He was an intimate friend of

44 CHKONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

Dr Kellison, President of Douay, who attended him in his
last sickness. He bequeathed his Hbrary to Douay College,
besides a third part of his estates. He was a nephew of
Mother Margaret Clement. He was author of a work
against Roger Widdrington. You say he was cousin to
the two sisters Copley. If so, he may have belonged to
the Yorkshire family of Redman."

From our Records, it appears that Dr Redman was the
son of Robert Redman by Bridget Clement, his wife, sister
to Mother Margaret Clement. Robert and Bridget Red-
man are mentioned in a deed of 1572, by which, in accordance
with the will of John Clement, M.D., they had to pay a
certain sum to Mother Margaret. Dodd says he was born
in Yorkshire, and he adds one more to the noble group
connected with the family of Blessed Thomas More, who
figure so conspicuously in the early history of St Monica's.

Before entering on the history of the Wiseman family, a
few brief notes in connection with Sisters Catharine
Tremaine and Frances Herbert, professed respectively in
1597 and 1598, may find a place here.

Sisters Catharine, Margaret, and Anne Tremaine were
daughters of a Cornish family on whom had fallen the
storm of persecution in all the bitterness of its fury. Sister
Anne Tremaine, professed at St Ursula's in 1601, was the
daughter of Sampson Tremayne and of Margaret, daughter
and heiress of Downing of Tredowan. Sampson Tremain
was for thirty years a prisoner for the faith. One of his
children, a half-brother of our Sister Anne, was John
Tremaine, S.J. He was received into the Society on his
deathbed, and died the death of a saint at the English
College in Rome, 8th August 161 5. He was born in
Dorset, probably at Chidcock. Sampson Tremaine's
brother Henry, by his wife Mary Prideaux, was the father
of Philip, Jane, and Richard, all three indicted at Launces-
ton, at the assizes in 1577, together with Blessed Cuthbert
Mayne, and that most glorious confessor, Francis Tregian.
Richard Tremaine and his companions were brought to

CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 45

trial " for more despite in their hose and doublets, their
upper garments stript," to the bar, charged with aiding and
abetting the Blessed Martyrs. This Richard Tremaine
(of Tregonen, in the parish of St Ewe) was sentenced with
Francis Tregian (according to Dr Oliver) to perpetual
imprisonment. His sister was indicted as a recusant only.
Our two Sisters, Margaret and Catharine, were the
daughters of this noble confessor of the faith, by his wife
Jane Coffin. Sampson Tremaine seems to have had trans-
ferred the family residence to Chidcock in Dorset, for
several of the family are mentioned among those who used
to hear Mass at Chidcock House, when it was served by
the holy martyr. Father John Cornelius, S.J., and a Mrs
Tremain died a prisoner in Dorchester jail in 1588. What
were the sufferings in prison of Richard Tremaine and the
others indicted with the blessed proto-martyr of the
Seminary priests, is thus told by a contemporary : " When
six, as I ween, or eight Catholics were shovelled together
and piled in one hole, though they were of good calling and
for the more part gentlemen, yet had they neither meat
(food) given them nor allowed them, other than unsavoury
and loathsome ; yea, and begged of alms from door to door ;
nor use of any water but of corrupt and filthy . . . (here I
omit a detail too loathsome for repetition). But of all others
this exceeded, that when these poor wretches began at last
to complain of this inhuman and savage cruelty, the jailor
threatened them further that he would from thenceforth tie
them to mangers and feed them like brute beasts. Yet in
the end, by long wit and continued soliciting of friends, it
came to pass that they were removed from the prison to
London, almost 200 miles thence, with a common guard.
Of which pilgrimage this was the ceremony and circum-
stances : Every one of them was set on a seely, lean and
bare horse, without bridle, spur, or other furniture for a
horseman ; the horses were fastened each one to other's
tail, marching in a long row one after another. Each man's
feet were tied under his horse's belly, and his arms were

46 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

bound hard and fast behind him. When they came near
to any city or town, one was appointed to ride before and
to give warninor to the inhabitants that there were coming
at hand certain papists, foes to the Gospel, and enemies to
the common weal. Upon which notice, the people being
stirred up did run in flocks forth of their houses into the
streets and welcome the comers with as spiteful contumelies
as they could."

Sister Frances Herbert's father was the second son of
William, first Earl of Pembroke, one of the executors of
Henry VHL, who married Anne Parr, so that Sister
Herbert's great-aunt was the intensely Protestant Queen
Catharine Parr, who so narrowly escaped being beheaded
by her royal spouse for her religious belief Sister Frances's
brother, first Lord Powis, was the great-grandfather of
Lady Lucy Herbert, who took the name of Teresa Joseph
in religion, and died Prioress of the Canonesses at Bruges
in 1744. Both her parents, the Marquess of Powis and
his wife Elizabeth, daughter of the Marquess of Worcester,
were among the confessors imprisoned at the time of Gates's
plot. Sister Teresa Joseph was well known for her piety
and her spiritual books, which have been more than once
reprinted. The Brziges Chronicle bears witness to her
admirable gifts of humility and meekness, joined to great
strength of character, and ardent devotion to the Blessed
Sacrament.

A longer notice is due to the family of our first Prioress
of St Monica's, Sister Mary Wiseman, who filled that office
for twenty-seven years.

"Then was elected for first Prioress of St Monica's,
Sister Mary Wiseman," writes our chronicler. Her parents
were Thomas Wiseman and Jane Vaughan. With the
ancient family that was to give England the first Cardinal
Archbishop of Westminster, and with an heroic lady of the
Vaughan family, to which we owe his successor, the sub-
joined instalment of the Chronicle is concerned.

The family of the Wisemans, represented at this day by

^

.-^J-ii^^Uo'

J - - ■ ^^ I

^

^4K

^

LkTIEK of VhN. WlLl.lAM HuWAKD, ViSCOUxNT STAFFORD.

Written to his Daughter, a Nun at St Monica's, the Day before his Execution.

Photographed from Original at St Aitgxistiiw's Priory.

[Face page 46.

CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 47

Sir William Wiseman, Bart., ofCaulfield, Essex, first settled
in that county about 1430. Cardinal Wiseman, as Mr
Ward tells us, claimed descent, through the Irish branch,
from Sir John Wiseman, Auditor of the Exchequer in the
reign of Henry VIII. At the time of our story, the
Wisemans possessed two estates in Essex. Their ancestral
home, called Billocks, was at Northend in the parish of
Great Waltham, and John Wiseman of Felsted, the father
of Thomas above mentioned, had in 1551 come into
possession of a noble estate, with a moated manor-house,
known as Broad Oaks or Braddocks, two miles from
Wimbish. How Thomas Wiseman became the husband
of Jane Vaughan, who was sought in marriage by thirty
suitors, I leave our chronicler to tell. Four sons and four
daughters were born to this saintly couple. Their eldest
son. Sir William Wiseman, knighted at a later date, "a
man more of heaven than of this world," inherited his
father's estate, and married the daughter of Sir Edmund
Huddlestone ; two other sons, Thomas and John, entered
the Society of Jesus, and died in the flower of their youth ;
Robert, the remaining son, fell in battle against the Dutch
Calvinists in Flanders, fighting when all around him had
surrendered. The tomb of the last Wiseman of Brad-
docks, killed in a duel in 1680, may be seen in Wimbish
Church. Of the four daughters of Thomas Wiseman and
Jane Vaughan, Jane and Bridget professed among our
Louvain Canonesses ; Anne and Barbara were successively
Abbesses of the Bridgettine community of Syon, then in
exile at Lisbon. The two Bridgettines had already left the
world for the cloister before the arrival at their paternal
home of Father John Gerard, S. J., to whose priceless auto-
biography, published by the late Father Morris, I am deeply
indebted in my work.

So fierce had been the storm of persecution in the
county of Essex that few Catholics had been left, save of
the higher class. The families of Wright, Kemp, Huddle-
stone, Crowley, and many another, had seen the greater

48 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

part of their estates made over to the parasites of a profli-
gate Court in punishment of their recusancy. Braddocks
was admirably suited as a refuge for hunted priests, and
many found shelter from the storm with Mr Thomas
Wiseman. This brave old confessor of the faith united
the pursuits of an English country gentleman to an almost
monastic rule of life. His daughter's childish reminiscence
of the Latin discourse which she had to listen to every
Friday from her father, who insisted on all his children
being familiar with the language of the Church, shows that
he was one of many who walked in the footsteps of Blessed
Thomas More.

His wife, Jane Vaughan (I find the name indifferently
spelt Vachan or Vagham in those days), survived him
many years, and is the celebrated "Widow Wiseman" of
the records of Elizabethan persecution. Her exact parent-
age I have not yet found ; our Chronicle only says that her
father was "of an ancient family in Wales, and her mother
of the blood royal." The same phrase, with the claim of
royal descent, probably through alliance with the Herberts,
Cornwalls, and other families, occurs in the Pontoise
Chronicle, in the account of Dame Clare Vaughan, O.S.B.,
of Courtfield. This circumstance, and the connection of
the Vaughans of Courtfield with our Canonesses, make me
suspect that the Widow Vaughan was herself not uncon-
nected with that house. (From a MS. in our records we
learn that her mother's maiden name was Tudor.) Clare
Vaughan, born in 1638, and professed a Benedictine at
Pontoise at the age of nineteen, was a relative of Prioress
Throckmorton of St Monica's. She was the daughter of
Richard Vaughan of Courtfield, born in 1 601, by his first
wife, Bridget Wigmore. His second wife was the heroic
Agatha Berington. Of this lady it is recorded, that when
Father James Richardson, who was acting as chaplain at
Courtfield in 1688, was in hiding for his life, she would not
confide the knowledge of his hiding-place even to the
Catholic domestics, but alone, through the depths of woods

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 49

beset by hostile soldiers, fearless in her trust in God,
would at midnight take him the necessary provisions for
his maintenance. The account of his daughter Clare's
holy life at Pontoise occupies six pages of the MS. pre-
served at St Scholastica's Abbey, Teignmouth, in the
handwriting of Lady Abbess Neville, daughter of the Earl
of Abergavenny, who only survived Dame Clare two years.
Richard Vaughan died at the age of ninety-six. His
grandson, another Richard, was obliged for his loyalty to
the Stuart dynasty to take refuge in Spain after the battle
of Culloden, was a General in the Spanish army, and by
his marriage with a Spanish lady, became the ancestor,
not only of many priests and religious (among whom a
late Prioress of our community), but of the Bishop of
Plymouth, the late Archbishop of Sydney, and the late
Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster. What further
inclines one to think that the Widow Wiseman whose
daughters professed at Louvain was either a Vaughan of
Courtfield or closely related to that branch of the family, is
the fact that three of the Courtfield Vaughans were
Canonesses at Bruges, a filiation made from St Monica's
in 1629. These were Sister Mary Teresa Vaughan, pro-
fessed in 1687, and Sisters Mary Joseph and Teresa
Austin Vaughan, who professed together on the 13th of
June 1709. From the Bruges Chronicle I learn that the
father of the two last lived to over a hundred years. When
Sister Teresa Austin was on the point of taking the habit,
he sent for her to England. As soon as they came in
sight of home, he said : " Now, Miss Vaughan, you see
Courtfield ; will you go there or return to Bruges ? " the
young lady instantly turned her horse's head to go back,
but was not allowed. After some time spent in the world,
she was permitted to return, and was a most fervent
religious.

To return to the Wisemans ; Widow Wiseman's house
at Northend was repeatedly invaded by the pursuivants,
and the inmates committed to prison. How she herself

D

50 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

was arrested, condemned to be pressed to death in 1598,
and kept in prison till the accession of James I., is told by
our chronicler. Her son William, after his father's death,
at first strove to lead an undisturbed life. In comfort and
independence, surrounded by a family whom he tenderly
loved, he increased the beauty of his estate by a large deer-
park ; and though the family daily had the consolation of
hearing Mass, yet as he only gave shelter to the old toler-
ated Marian priests, he was left in tranquillity and
unmolested by the fury of persecution. All this changed
soon after the arrival of Father Gerard ; the Jesuit's
presence kindled a holy fire that soon made itself felt in the
neighbourhood, and the result was, of course, to arouse the
heroism of the master of the house. A singular event of
this time ought not to be here omitted.

History, romance, and scandal have often been busied
with the story of the high-born and beautiful, but most
disedifying Penelope Devereux, Lady Rich, sister to
Robert, Earl of Essex, Elizabeth's prime favourite after
the death of Leicester. Her husband, Lord Rich, was the
grandson of the infamous Solicitor-General Rich, the legal
murderer of Blessed Thomas More. In early life Penelope
had been contracted to Sir Philip Sidney. By a sentence
of the Ecclesiastical Courts she separated from her
husband, and was married to Charles Blount, Earl of
Devonshire, the rite being performed by William Laud,
afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury. In four months
the Earl died of a broken heart. The unhappy Penelope
at once disappeared from Court, and was never again seen
in public. Despite her guilt and disgrace, something
attractive has always surrounded her memory on account
of her known kindness of heart, especially to the distressed
and afflicted, even in her days of sin and shame. The
holy Widow Wiseman visited her in her quiet Essex home ;
by Father Gerard's influence and discourse her heart was
changed, and what was long unknown to her biographers is
now revealed to us in his autobiography. The poor penitent

CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 51

found rest at last, and before her death Penelope Devereux
was received into the Catholic Church "by one of ours,"
writes Father Gerard. The tragic end of her gallant brother,
whose strange career is thought by some to have made him
the original of Shakespeare's Hamlet, had no doubt helped
to wean her from the world.

The sentence of pressing to death, known as the peine
forte et dure, was, as our chronicler has told us, passed on
the Widow Wiseman (Jane Vaughan) on the 3rd of July
1598, in company with Mr Barnes, sentenced to be hanged
for relieving a priest. Challoner gives the name of the
latter as Barnet. Both were reprieved by Queen Elizabeth,
but kept in prison till the accession of James I. The
charge against Mrs Wiseman was that she had given the
priest "a French crown." The priest in question was the
Venerable Griffith Jones, alias Buckley, alias Godfrey
Maurice, which last was his religious name. He was a
Welshman of good family, from Clenock in Carnarvonshire,
and a Franciscan friar, and won his crown of martyrdom
on the 1 2th of the same month at St Thomas Watering's,
orders having been given that he should be executed at
seven o'clock in the morning, in order that few persons
should see him. He seems to have been one of the old
Marian priests, a friend of Cardinal Allen's, and on that
account was for many years unmolested. But, in 1582, we
find him a prisoner in the Marshalsea, again at liberty in
1586, and in the following year confined with other priests
in Wisbeach Castle. Thence he was released in 1590, a
couple of years before the deplorable discord broke out
among the imprisoned confessors, crossed the sea to
France, and took the habit of St Francis at Pontoise.

After this we find him for three years in the Ara Cceli
convent of his Order in Rome. A halo of sanctity seems
to have always surrounded him, and at his leaving Rome
for the English Mission, Clement VHI. embraced him,
called him a true son of St Francis, and besought his
prayers. His first asylum in London, in 1693, was in the

52 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S.

house established by Father Gerard, S. J., under the care of
Mrs Anne Line, the martyr, as a refuge for priests. Then
followed three years of missionary life, and two more in
prison. It was during the former three that Mrs Wiseman
had the happiness of succouring her saintly countryman,
for both were natives of gallant Wales. Some words
spoken by the martyr on the scaffold explain the drift of
the words of Mrs Wiseman, when she refused to plead, as
told in the Chronicle, lest the jury should be compelled to
return a verdict against the facts.

*' Then standing up, he declared upon his salvation,
that neither Mr Barnes nor Mrs Wiseman had ever given
him one penny in silver. Topcliffe answered : But gold
they did give you. He replied quickly : Nor yet gold.
He further protested that he had not said Mass in their
presence. Topcliffe exclaimed : No, for they were public
prayers, there being no super-altar. Father Buckley
(Jones) replied : There are no such things. Master
Topcliffe ; neither did I say any public prayers at all in
their hearing." The fiendish Topcliffe harassed him
savagely to the last ; but the crowd would not allow the
usual butchery to begin till he was quite dead, to the dis-
appointment of the priest-catcher.

To return to William Wiseman at Braddocks ; from
the arrival of Father Gerard he was incessantly worried by
the pursuivants, his noble wife, Jane Huddlestone, bearing
her full share of their sufferings. After Father Gerard's
arrival, instead of confining his hospitality to the unmo-
lested Marian clergy, we find him reported to the Lord
Keeper Puckering as "a continual receiver of Seminary
priests," and that both Fathers John Gerard and Henry
Garnett were at Braddocks.

A traitor, one John Frank, not a Catholic, though
often employed in the service of the family from whom he
received many kindnesses, put himself into communication
with the hoary villain, Topcliffe. On 26th December
i593> the Widow Wiseman's house of Northend was

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 53

invaded by the pursuivants, just as all was ready for
beginning Mass. Though the priest escaped, the holy
widow and her son Robert were arrested and sent
prisoners to London. Among others in the house at the
time are the names of Mrs Anne Wiseman, widow, and
Mary Wiseman her daughter, with another Mary Wise-
man, daughter to Mr George Wiseman of Upminster, in
the Commission of the Peace, and many others ; in short, a
large houseful of Catholic guests had assembled to cele-
brate the Christmas festivities, and had heard the three
Christmas Masses and received Holy Communion the
day before. William Wiseman was arrested in a house he
had hired in Golden Lane in London. His arrest was on
the 17th or 1 8th of March 1594, and he was at once
examined before Sir Edward Coke and others. Father
Gerard, whom the priest-catchers hoped to have appre-
hended there, instantly returned to Braddocks.

The blood-hounds, thrown off the scent for a moment,
were not long at fault. Holy Week and Easter Sunday
had been kept by the pious household there as Christmas
Day had been at Northend, with all holy rites. Easter
Monday in 1594 fell on ist April. Rumours of danger
had arrived the day before, and before daylight the altar
was dressed and the priest on the point of vesting, when
the tramp of horses and the loud shouts of armed men
thundering at the door announced the hour of peril.
Quick as lightning, priest, altar furniture, vestments, and
books were huddled into a hiding-place made under a fire-
place, the movable floor being lifted up and let down again.
At the same moment the door of the house crashed under
the pursuivants' blows, and they rushed upstairs. The
lady of the house and her daughters were thrust into her
bedroom and locked in ; the Catholic servants locked up
in another room. The house was now searched from
garret to cellar, candles lit in dark places, walls hammered,
measured, the roof examined, wainscoting torn off; the
search lasting two whole days, but all to no purpose. On

54 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

the afternoon of the second day, the magistrates left in
despair ; but the lady of the house having incautiously
let the traitor into part of the secret, they were recalled by
Frank the next morning, and another two days' fruitless
search began, during which the hot coals from the fire lit
by the night-watchers fell into Father Gerard's hiding-place,
who was listening to their conversation. But even as at
Northend, the priest was in the house all the time of the
search, so it was at Braddocks. The hunted Jesuit's hour
was not yet come. After four days' search the pursuivants
left, and Father Gerard, half dead with hunger, came forth
from his tomb ; his hostess, Mrs Wiseman (not the Widow
Wiseman), was so changed by suffering that he could only
recognise her by her voice and dress. After rest and
refreshment. Father Gerard rode to London, and found
shelter with the Countess of Arundel. His arrest, torture,
and escape from the Tower in company with Mr Arden,
Shakespeare's relative, are told in his autobiography.
William Wiseman obtained his release by money and Court
influence ; the Widow Wiseman was, four years later,
condemned to death as already related. At the accession
of James I. this much-harassed family obtained a short
breathing time of liberty and peace. It was probably
during this interval that William Wiseman was knighted.

In the year 1635 our Chronicle records the profession
of Sister Mary Wiseman. It only records concerning her
family that she was the Prioress's cousin, and daughter to
" Sir Thomas Wiseman of a place in Essex " ; that her
father had followed the time by apostacy ; but that her
mother, being a Roper and cousin to Sir Anthony Roper,
had been reconciled, and on her deathbed obtained a
promise from Sir Thomas that the child should be placed
in Mr Roper's household, and brought up a Catholic.
This was done, and at the age of eight years she was sent
as a scholar to St Monica's. There she professed at the
age' of eighteen. She had been christened Penelope, but
at her confirmation took the name of Mary.

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 55

The heroic Widow Wiseman (Jane Vaughan) died in
1610. In the year 16 14, Laurence Blundeston, a student
of the English College in Rome, whose mother was Mar-
garet, daughter of Richard Wiseman, Esq., of Flingrige,
in Essex, tells a sad story. His parents had indeed re-
turned to the faith, and five of his brothers were Catholics,
but, he adds, **all my maternal uncles and aunts are
Protestants, except one. Sir William Wiseman, of
Braddocks, Essex." The family had yielded to persecution,
and Mr Ward tells us that Cardinal Wiseman claimed de-
scent from Capel Wiseman, Protestant Bishop of Dromore,
the third son of another Sir William Wiseman. The
Cardinal's grandfather, however, was a Catholic merchant
of Waterford, who migrated to Spain in the eighteenth
century. It is pleasing to record the union of the families
of Wiseman and Vaughan in the days of Elizabeth ; but,
not having at hand a pedigree of either, I could give only
an incomplete notice. Francis Wiseman, of Essex, was
ordained priest in Rome, and sent on the English Mission
in 1637. Richard Wiseman adhered to the royal fortunes
during the Civil War, and was made prisoner at the battle
of Worcester ; Sir Robert Wiseman was Judge Advocate-
General in the reign of Charles II.

In Father Morris's Troubles, Foley's Records, S.J., and
Mrs Hope's Franciscan Martyrs, I have found most of
the authorities for the above account of the Wiseman
family. What the Louvain chronicler adds to them is of
the deepest interest.

Concerning Sister Barbara Wilford, who professed in
1595 ^i^d <^^G<^ i^ 16 1 8, I need only add to the chronicler's
account that though the principal seat of the family was
at Quendon, in Essex, yet her father, Thomas, son of Sir
James Wilford of Newman Hall, lived at Hartridge, in
Kent, and married Mary, the daughter of Humphrey
Browne. Agnes Wilford, Barbara's sister, married John
Throckmorton, and these were the parents of Mother
Prioress Throckmorton, of whom more hereafter.

CHAPTER II

From the Resignation of Mother Margaret Clement to the
Foundation of a Separate English Community at St Monica's,
1 606- 1 609.

The old Mother Clement was also desirous of the same (to
elect as Prioress an Englishwoman). This was their
determination, but Almighty God, whose counsels are
above human understanding, ordained this design should
be crossed by the Visitors, who had doubtless some good
intention therein, although to outward judgment their pro-
ceedings seemed strange. For, the new election being
made, two were chosen, the one English, and the other
Dutch, who at the present was Sub-Prioress. The English
was Sister Mary Wiseman, who had twenty-five voices,
and the Dutch but seven. Notwithstanding, this latter
was accepted, and the other rejected, in respect, as they
said, that she had not the full years of the Council of
Trent, which commands that a Superior should be of
forty years at her election, which years the Dutchwoman
had.

So the English lost their election, which they could
hardly brook, being persuaded by most of their friends
that they had great wrong, and therefore counselled them to
appeal unto Rome,* offering to assist them therein. Which
first they thought good to let the Visitors know, who took
the matter very ill, and flatly denied to grant their request,
with grievous chapters and threatenings of excommunica-

* Always spelt Room in MS., according to the old pronunciation.

66

1^

■^S*-i--

■•^£-5«iRv,

V

Deed in Flemish of St Ursula's, Louvain.

Showing the only Copy known to exist of the Seal of that Monastery, w hei ein Mother
Margaret Clement made her Profession, and of which she was the Prioress.

Photographed from OrUjinal at St Augustine's Priory.

[Face page 57.

CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 57

tion from the Archbishop, which was a great terror unto
the hearts of the English, being so desolate with the former
affliction. Yet, their English friends still animating them
not to give it over, but to appeal to the Chair of Rome, to
that end, they drew up a form of petition, unto*which they
were all to set their hands. Which being first brought to
the old Reverend Mother, she flatly denied to do it, saying
that for her part she could stand to the censure of her
superiors, and would seek no further ; whereupon all the
rest likewise gave it over. So the Dutch Mother was con-
firmed without any contradiction, and the English was
made Sub- Prioress. Almighty God would have it so, as it
afterwards appeared, for if the English Superior had been
accepted, they would not have sought a separation, and our
cloister of St Monica's perhaps had never been erected.
For the present it may be supposed that their minds were
not wholly quiet, although they bore it patiently and showed
themselves friendly to each other for the maintaining of
peace and concord. Notice was given to the Bishop that
matters were quieted, and that they had all vowed obedience
unto the new Mother. But he, having been before incensed
against the English for their supposed repugnance, com-
manded they should all together come before the Visitors,
and every one in particular should acknowledge her fault,
and ask forgiveness. It may well be imagined how this
went against their hearts, thinking with themselves that
they had the wrong ; except only the good old Mother,
whose manner was to turn all things to the best. The
Visitors then being sent for, and they coming before them,
the old Mother was to begin ; which she did with such
humility and submission, that all the rest were confounded,
and none of them could do the like, some for weeping, and
many of their hearts being so full, could scarce bring forth
their words. And, after this was done, one of the nuns
said to her : " O dear Mother, how could you acknowledge
your fault with such a courage, we having had such mani-
fest wrong? " She answered sweetly : " No, child, I take it

58 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

for no wrong, but from the hand of Almighty God,
whose Blessed Will it is, and I do easily submit my
will thereunto, for we have no surer token to know the
Will of God, but by our superiors ; and although they
should do otherwise than right, yet be assured that God
will defend our cause, if we put our whole confidence in
Him, for He hath otherwise foreseen than we can
imagine." By which we may be perceived how conform-
able she was to God's Will, and how great her submis-
sion to superiors, which Almighty God accepted of so
well as to turn it unto a greater good than if they had
contended for justice to men's seeming upon their side ;
and may teach us hereafter how good it is to keep peace
and concord in religious houses, whatsoever occasions
happen. For there assuredly will God pour a double
benediction, as it plainly appeared by that which ensued
after these said things.

The Dutch Prioress, whose name was Sister Winifred
Garrett, being established in her office upon St Andrew's
day of the said year 1606, the English lived peaceably
under her government the space of above two years, for
she was, to speak the truth, a woman of great virtue, wise
and discreet, both well experienced in temporal matters,
and also much given to prayer and devotion. For she had
lived before her entry into the monastery with Doctor
Jansonius, who had brought both her and her brother (at
that time Visitor) out of Holland, and she being a house-
wifely woman, kept his house. Now, although she was
kind to the English, yet in respect that the Benedictines at
Brussels had been erected some few years, those who came
out of England sought rather to go into an English
monastery than to St Ursula's. So they plainly perceived
they should hardly increase if they remained among the
Dutch nation ; wherefore, to the greater honour and glory
of God, some of them consulted together about getting
leave to depart thence, and to erect an English monastery
in the same town. They moved this design unto the old

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 5^

Mother, who liked very well thereof; and withal agreed to
be one of the first herself. Although she was blind and
aged, nevertheless her desire to promote a work so much to
God's glory made her willingly consent thereto ; this
animated the others much, and gave them courage to pro-
ceed in their determination.

The names (of those) that would undertake this enter-
prise were : Sister Catharine Allen, who had her mother
and brother-in-law living in the town, ready to assist in
the matter ; the other was Sister Elizabeth Shirley, who,
having had in the world experience of temporal things,
was the more willing to lend her helping hand thereto.
But as yet they knew not of temporal means to compass
so great a business. Nevertheless, they agreed together
to see if they could obtain their Superior's liking therein,
to wit, the Dutch Mother, that by her means they might
obtain both the Visitor's and the Bishop's consent ; and
withal they thought to propose it to the Procuratrix of the
Cloister, as supposing, for to lighten the burden of the
House, which was in great poverty, she would be glad to
be rid of them. Which indeed proved so ; for she was
very willing to consent unto that design, as also the
Mother, seeing that they desired a thing both to God's
honour and the good of her monastery, promised to assist
them all she could, if so be they procured means out of
England to be able to live in any reasonable sort. Here-
upon they wrote unto their friends, and some four of them
obtained the grant of some ^lo a year or more. She
that had her friends in the town (Sister Allen) obtained
;^8 a year of her mother, besides her help and assist-
ance in all that she could unto this new work. More-
over they were promised out of England ^500 to begin
the cloister withal, of a Catholic gentleman who in his
will determined to leave so much unto pious uses,
which their friends sought to get for them in this their
beginning.

They, then, thinking themselves sure hereof, intended

60 CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

to buy a house therewith, and so gave a certificate of all
unto the Bishop, notifying to him also the Mother's good
will thereunto. And Mr Worthington, brother-in-law
unto Sister Allen, did earnestly solicit the business with
the Bishop, offering himself to be bound in all that he was
worth for their maintenance, so great was his charity.
There also joined with them a R. Priest, Father John Fenn,
who, having long lived in these countries, was very well
esteemed and accounted of, especially of the Archbishop,
they having been conversant together in their youth ; for
this good priest was in former times chaplain-major in Sir
William Stanley's regiment, and in his later years left
that place and came to St Ursula's, to live there a more
recollected life in the Father's house, saying the first Mass
every morning.

But when the English proposed their design, he
(Father Fenn) was very willing and ready to help them,
offering to go with them to be their Father. He was
content to serve them for nothing, and even to pay for his
own board, if need required, and that they were not able
to maintain a ghostly Father. This liked the Bishop, and,
moreover Dr Jansonius (at the request of the Mother)
solicited him in the business, whereupon the Archbishop
consented, and gave commission to the said Dr Jansonius
to come to St Ursula's, and to impose the charge of
procuring the setting forward of the new cloister to
Sister Elizabeth Shirley, who had the best friends, that
she should labour in the affairs of the new House, and that
what she did should stand for the rest. Matters hitherto
had gone very secret, but now there was no remedy, they
must be known in the cloister, for the same afternoon the
Mother called together the Council-sisters and discharged
Sister Shirley of her office, being at that present Vestiaria,
declaring unto them the reason, because the Bishop had
imposed on her this other charge. Hereupon began
crosses and troubles to arise (as all great enterprises
commonly have many difficulties). For, first, in the same

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 61

monastery began commotion ; some were willing hereunto
and some were unwilling, saying that the English did this
out of disgust ; others, that now when they had spent
what they brought, they would depart, and leave them in
greater misery than before, by reason that the alms of the
English helped them. Hearing also that the old Mother
would be one of them, they were the more incensed ; but
the English appeased what they could, saying : They need
not to trouble themselves, for there was no means to effect
it, only they might let them try ; and such other things,
so that with good words and reasons they quieted most
part of them.

The Procuratrix of the new monastery, Sister Shirley,
was diligent to perform her office imposed by the Arch-
bishop, although with a heavy heart, seeing such small
means, but she wrote earnestly to all her friends and
acquaintance in England, who promised their assistance by
making a gathering among Catholics for the end, and the
;^500 before mentioned they thought was sure. Where-
fore she dealt with Mr Worthington to seek them a
convenient house in the town to begin the monastery.
He was also very forward therein, and at length found
out this that is now our cloister, which he judged was
fit for the purpose. It belonged to an Abbot, and being
religious land, they were the better pleased therewith
than if (it had been) a worldly house. So they agreed
about the price for ;^8oo, being a great house, with a fair
orchard belonging to it. The day of payment was
appointed, and upon tendering of the first sum the
English religious were to have full assurance, and to be
put in possession. But herein came another cross, for
when they had made shift to get so much money as
the first payment required, and sent it to the Abbot,
he lay on his deathbed, and could make no assurance
thereof. So they were again to seek ; yet was not
this all their trouble, for many more and greater they
passed in this happy enterprise, by reason that those

62 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

who were before their friends, and of whom they hoped
for most assistance, seeing it go thus forward, turned
quite contrary.

Sister Shirley, that had the charge of things, went to
the old Mother and made her moan when she was in any
trouble, and asked counsel what to do, for she knew not
what friend to make her recourse unto ; it seemed they
were wholly forsaken of all. The good Mother counselled
her to write to her nephew, Dr Clement, at Brussels,
who had the dignity of Vicar-General of the Army, and
was Dean of St Gudula's Church, and to commit her-
self and the whole cause unto him, entreating him to
stand their assured friend by his good word and coun-
tenance.

She did so, and presently received an answer that he
would do them all the good he could, which indeed he per-
formed faithfully. For many times he omitted his own
great affairs to assist us, sometimes writing to Rome,
sometimes unto England in our behalf, and sometimes
coming himself in person to Louvain to persuade our
adversaries to become friendly unto us and to assist us.
But, to return to this house which was in hand to be
bought, they, seeing the Abbot was dead who would have
sold it, thought it best to hire the house for the present
of an old gentlewoman who had taken it for some years
of the Abbot, so they went to hire the greatest part of the
house, she reserving the other part for herself to dwell in,
and two little parcels besides which she had already let
out unto women. She made them pay ^30 a year,
although she had taken it of the Abbot for ;^I5, and
also reserved rooms besides those already mentioned, to
herself When Father Fenn came to see, he found they
were the most principal chambers, which might serve for
him and to entertain strangers. Whereupon they were
forced to agree with the old woman again for to have
those rooms, which she would not part withal, unless
they gave her more rent, and so they were fain to give

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 63

her forty shillings a year more. Thereupon she gave
them possession of the house, and delivered the keys to
Mr Worthington.

Matters being brought thus far, they judged it now
time to give notice to the Bishop that they were provided
of a house, making humble petition for to have licence that
some nuns, which had gotten yearly maintenance of their
friends in England, might go forth and begin a new
monastery of the same Order in the town, of the English
nation. Which petitions being formally written in Latin,
they entreated Dr Jansonius to send it up unto the Bishop,
which he was contented to do. The copy whereof is this
that followeth : —

" Right Reverend and most Illustrious,

"Your humble and devout children of the
English nation. Religious of the Canonesses Regular of
St Augustine in Louvain, do expose their request and
petition unto your Grace, that whereas the Monastery of
St Ursula is replenished with English Religious, and as
yet many young maids of the same nation are found who
desire to take upon them monastical life, but cannot well
be all received, by reason that monasteries erected in these
Low Countries ought to be for the most part of the same
nation, and therefore some will not admit so many as do
offer themselves, these gentlewomen, finding repulse and
difficulty, either return to the world, or at least do leave
their goodly religious purpose. Others hearing this, having
good motions to religion they are not effectually followed.
That therefore this detriment may from this time forward
have an end, your foresaid children do entreat you, of your
pious paternity, that you vouchsafe to give them leave to
erect in Louvain a new monastery and convent of Canon-
esses Regular, to the honour of God, the Blessed Virgin
Mary, and St Michael Archangel, and St Augustine, to be
subject unto the metropolitan See of Mechlin, with the

64 CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

same right as the Monastery of St Ursula is, and with such
conditions as your Gracious Paternity shall think good to
prescribe, and such persons to go to the new House pre-
pared for that end as you shall choose and call out, who,
absolved from their obedience to the Mother of St Ursula's
Cloister, may begin a new convent of Canonesses Regular,
of English, and may serve God there, with enclosure, and
obedience to the Mother to be chosen according to the
form of Canonesses Regular, with power to gather together
more Englishwomen, either those that are professed else-
where, or of such as shall desire to come unto them out of
the world, as their ability shall serve and the occasion of
them that shall offer themselves to this new Monastery
shall require.

"And in respect that the diet of the Dutch nation is
not so agreeable to the English, nor convenient for their
health, your foresaid children do entreat that those who
remain in the Monastery of St Ursula, after the others
are taken out, may likewise have leave to go to the new
Monastery of the English, with leave of the Superior of
both Convents, as soon as the new Monastery shall be
able to admit them."

Upon this petition they received a formal licence from
the Archbishop, under his own name, hand, and seal, who
also having occasion to come into the town, came himself
in person to St Ursula's, and calling for all them by name
who had means to go forth, he absolved them from their
obedience to that cloister, and appointed them to go unto
the new monastery upon the Tuesday after, which was St
Scholastica's day, 1609, it being then Friday. At that
time Mr Worthington was very desirous to have one more
to go with them, for there were but five that had means,
and he would fain that Sister Susan Laborn, which was
his kinswoman, might have made the number six. The
old Mother also and Sister Shirley were content therewith,
hoping that God would assist them to keep one for nothing ;

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 65

but the Dutch Mother hearing of this, desired to put forth
with them one whom she thought should never be able to
get means. Therefore she kneeled down before the Bishop
and desired humbly that since they would take one for
nothing, she might be the chooser, in respect that she
knew one of them had no friends ever to assist her to go,
and therefore in charity she could not but speak for her :
this was Sister Margaret Garnett. Whereupon the Bishop,
and the others that were to go, consented thereto, and she
was set down for the sixth. Besides, the old Mother
desired of the Bishop, that in respect that they were gentle-
women, and had no handling of work and that they should
be forced to take some for to serve them, he would grant
that one nun more which had been a servant in the world,
might go with them in place of a lay-sister. Her name
was Elizabeth Dumford, who had the office of Cellaress at
that present in St Ursula's. This the Bishop also accorded
unto, so they became seven in number.

After this Sister Shirley, the Procuratrix of the new
monastery, went to the Dutch Mother, and humbly desired
of her that she would give them something of household
stuff to begin withal, for it would be hard for them to buy
all by the penny, considering they had scarce wherewith
to buy food to live. She answered that she would willingly
do it but feared to have disgust of the Congregation, that
they might say she trifled away the goods of the monastery.
Notwithstanding, she gave her free leave to beg of all the
officers in the house, whatsoever thing they could spare to
assist them withal, and she would give her leave to take it
for so they could not blame her. Besides that, all the habit,
bedding, pictures, and other things, which the seven that
were to go, had leave to use there, the Bishop had ordained
they might freely take with them. Hereupon the Procura-
trix was very desirous to have the organs, in respect that
they were given to the cloister a little before by an English
priest, Mr Pits, who brought Sister Mary Skidmore, to the
House, and for her sake, because she could play on them,

E

66 CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

and had given £2,0 towards them. But indeed they cost
;{^45 when they came to be bought, so that ^^15 the cloister
was to give if they would have them ; which they being
backward by reason of their poverty, Sister Shirley offered
to pay the said sum, so that they might have them to their
new cloister. She had been incited thereto by Sister Mary
Skidmore who feared that if the organs stayed behind, they
must keep her still there, because they had no other to play
on them but she ; and contrariwise, if they were gone, those
of the new monastery would be glad to send for her after-
wards to play on them. Which indeed fell out accordingly,
but now at the present there was great difficulty to get
them, by reason that some in the house stood very much
ao-ainst it. Nevertheless, the new Procuratrix lost not her
courage, but desired Mr Worthington to go about this to
Dr Jansonius, to desire him he would speak in their
behalf to the Mother that they might have them, for she
knew that he for some respects was not willing they should
have organs there. This was so done, and he easily
consented to it, and sent to the Mother that she should let
them go. Any word of his sufficed, for she was much
guided by him. So the organs were granted to go with
them, though so many were against it.

Upon the Monday also, the new Procuratrix went to all
the officers, as the Mother had bid her, to beg something,
and some of them were very friendly and some otherwise,
as commonly there are both sorts in a community. Beside
this the Bishop had ordered that the cloister should allow
them a little church-stuff, and some song-books, which they
might well do, in respect that when they undertook the
Roman Office, all the nuns were provided of books by the
charity and contribution of the English, as also the Choir
stored with song-books. Wherefore, of five great Mass-
books that were given, they allowed them two, and other
old song-books, as also some antiphonaries and versicle
books. As concerning church-stuff, they gave them one
vestment of a kind of gold tissue, which had been given

CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 67

Sister Grace Nevel, an English nun, as also another yellow
silk-wrought, given by Sister Catharine Pigot, with two or
three antipendiums and some albs, with other small things
which the Sacristan could well spare, and being English,
hoping to follow herself, was the more willing to help them.
Moreover, Father Fenn, having lent much money unto the
cloister, and they not being able to pay him, he was content
to take for it the suit of red damask with tunics, given by
the two Aliens at their profession, as also the silver
Monstrance of the Blessed Sacrament, given by Sisters
Mary Best and Frances Felton at their profession ; all
which things scarcely amounted unto the sum which thev
owed him ; notwithstanding, for these things he remitted
wholly the debt. Mrs Allen besides had given the white
damask hearse-cloth, with that condition that the Eno-lish
should take it with them when they went into England,
therefore desired they might have it now with them in this
new erection, which was as a fore-passage for England, and
this the cloister condescended unto. The new Procuratrix
also got of the Refectoress a good portion of pewter, for
although she was of the Dutch nation, yet was kind to them
and gave them a dozen of pewter-plates, as many por-
ringers, and some dishes with such-like things as she could
spare in her office, for they were reasonably well stored.
Then she went into the kitchen, into the bake-house
and brew-house, and got of the lay-sisters some pots
and pans, tubs, and such-like necessary things for house-
keeping.

When, therefore, our Procuratrix had gotten what she
could among the officers, she showed it all to the Mother
of the cloister, who was well content to let her have these
things away. So they packed them up against the next
day, in which they were to depart, and with all their
bedding and habits, and whatever they had in their cells.
As also the Procuratrix, having herself been Vestiaria, got
leave of the Mother to take away some linen with her, in
respect that she left the office much better stored than she

68 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

had found it, as appeared by the inventory of things. She
took therefore a good portion for the new house, with the
Mother's consent, and Sister EHzabeth Dumford, having
been Cellaress, had leave also for some little things that
could be spared in that office. Rut as for money or victuals,
the cloister gave them not one penny, and the new Pro-
curatrix, Sister Shirley, had but only 5s, in her purse, which
her friends had sent her for a token, to begin house withal.
This she was to give, all and much more, to the waggonmen
for the carriage of their baggage to their new house : and
the organs being to be carried by men's hands, she was
forced to hire eight men, who had each of them is. By
which may be seen how truly was this the work of God,
who with so small a beginning to human judgment, hath
made our monastery to be erected, and increased it from
time to time.

Upon St Scholastica's day (loth February), in the
morning, they were all called to the Chapter-house, both
nuns and lay-sisters. Then those that were to depart
acknowledged their faults as the manner is, the old Mother
beginning first, who spoke so humbly and with such
fervour, desired pardon for whatever she might in the time
of her government have given them cause for offence, that
she made them almost all to weep, and the Dutch Mother
also asked of them pardon in behalf of herself and the
congregation for whatever they might have disgusted them.
After this they heard a singing Mass of Our Blessed Lady,
and communicated. So (they) took their leave, but at
their parting was much weeping on both sides ; especially
some were so grieved to part from the old Mother, that for
a long time after they could not cease from tears. These
our first sisters came forth then out of St Ursula's for to
begin this monastery dedicated unto Our Blessed Lady's
Conception, to the glorious Archangel St Michael, and to
St Monica, mother of our Holy Father St Augustine.
Their names were these : first, the Reverend old Mother,
Margaret Clement, whom her nephew assisted with main-

CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 69

tenance, she being blind ; next in profession was Sister
Catharine Allen, niece unto Cardinal Allen ; the third,
Sister Margaret Garnett, sister to the Rev. Father Henry
Garnett, Provincial of the Society of Jesus in England ;
the fourth, Sister Elizabeth Shirley, who had the charge
to begin this cloister, and was made both Procuratrix and
Superior until the election of a Prioress ; she had twenty
mark a year allowed her of her friends. The fifth sister,
Barbara Wilford, daughter to Thomas Wilford, Esquire, of
Essex, who suffered much for his conscience. The sixth.
Sister Mary Welsh, niece to Mr Southcote, who allowed
her ^lo a year. Besides these six, went also Sister
Elizabeth Dumford, a veiled nun, for to help them in their
household work. They went in the street by two and two
in order, having on hukes to make the less show, but not-
withstanding the people ran out of their houses to see
them, some said they knew the old Mother of St Ursula's
who came last led by the Rev. Father Fenn on the one side
and Mr Worthington on the other side. They went all,
first to St Peter's Church, to visit Our Blessed Lady's
picture of miracle there, for so the old Mother had desired
leave of the Bishop they might do, and having heard Mass
again at St Peter's which Father Fenn said, they thought
to have directly from thence to this house, but Mr
Worthington led them without their knowledge into his
own house, where he had prepared for them a great
dinner, such was his joy to receive nuns. They on the
other side were much marvelled, thinking to have come to
their own cloister, when they saw themselves in his house,
but there was no remedy ; he had leave of the Bishop, and
they must do then as he would have them, for they knew
not the way unto their own monastery.

There also met them the Rector of the English College,
who had brought with him two great tarts, the one of
minced meat, made costly, the ether of fruit, very good.
These tarts Mrs Allen would not have to be touched there,
for they had enough. She sent them before to our own

70 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

house, and indeed they served our poor sisters for a whole
week.*

The said Rector also gave Sister Shirley a little piece
of gold of half a crown for an alms to begin house withal,
and so they dined together to the great content of Mrs
Allen, her son and daughter. After dinner, about two or
three of the clock in the afternoon, they came to this house
and the first thing they did was to dress the altar in that
litde chapel which is the gallery above by the dormi-
tories, and then their Rev. Father Fenn hallowed some
water, which being done, they sung all together the
antiphon of the Blessed Trinity with the collect. Next,
Ave Regina CcBlorum with a collect unto our Blessed
Lady ; then an antiphon and collect of our Holy Father
St Augustine, and lastly an antiphon and collect of St
Monica our Patroness.

After this they went to settle in order their bedding
and the things which they brought from St Ursula's,
accommodating themselves in the rooms which they found
as was most convenient for a monastical life. Also, Father
Fenn, and their servant Roger, whom Sister Shirley had
taken from Mr Worthington to serve our cloister, had
their rooms apart, where he placed his library of books,
which were many. The Procuratrix had caused Mr Allen

♦ A most comical little drawing of the dinner scene at Mr
Worthington's done by one of the sisters present, shows their
exuberant gaiety in all their troubles. Under it are written a set of
verses, too long for insertion. But here is a sample : —

" I leave you to guess our dear Mother's surprise
At finding a table well covered with pies.
Old Mr Worthington played them a trick
And old Father Fenn entered into it quick . . .
They talked of the Convent they're going to found
Tho' alas ! in their pockets they had not a pound.
To be Proc. in those days was I'm sure very bad
And many a time has she felt very sad . . .
Though many from friends they'd already bespoken,
Yet promise like pie-crust is made to be broken."

CUTHHERT TUNSTALL, UlSIIOr OF DURIIAM.

f -Foce pafje 70.

CHKONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 71

to lay in a barrel of beer aforehand, as also a batch of
bread, such as we use now for common bread. At nio-ht
for their supper they had only every one an egg and bread
and butter, but when they came to eat their e<ygs, they
wanted salt with them, having none as yet in the house,
which made them good recreation among themselves, to
see what a pretty shift they must make.

So soon then as they were a little settled, within a day
or two, presently they began to read their Office publicly,
and the gallery that joineth the chapel served them for a
choir, which is so narrow that when they bowed at Gloria
Patri their heads did almost meet together. They also
sang Mass upon Sundays and holidays, only Our Lady's
singing Mass upon Saturday they thought they must omit,
because they were so few, and half of them commonly
busied in the offices of the house. But good Father Fenn
would needs have them to sing that Mass too ; yea, he
said that if they would not, he would begin to sing it
himself, but they were willing enough to strain themselves
to honour Our Blessed Lady. The old Mother also
could not be content till they had the Blessed Sacrament
always in their little chapel, but the Procuratrix could not
presently satisfy her herein, by reason that she was not
able to buy a lamp and keep it continually burning.
Whereupon our Lord provided for Himself and ordained
that a good English gentleman, a student in this town,
gave 5s. for buying of a lamp, and soon after he,
dying, left our cloister the money he had, which was about
£\o. So then they enjoyed the Blessed Sacrament and
no wonder the old Mother had this devotion, for she com-
municated every day, having leave of the Visitor, in respect
of her age and worthy forepassed life.

To Matins they rose at four o'clock in the morning, for
they were as yet too few to rise at midnight, but such was
their fervour in God's service that they could not be
content with one Mass a day. And, there being a poor
Irish priest who studied in the town and could not tell

72 CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

where to say his Mass, for he had been refused everywhere,
he therefore came here, and was accepted of to say the
first Mass. The wine for Masses was that which the
tradesmen of the town came and presented to the nuns
upon their first coming, for to have their custom, bringing
each one a pot or two several times ; and they never drank
it themselves, but kept it for the Altar, because they were
not well able to buy it. Besides this. Almighty God
helped them to extend their charity to others ; for the
Irish Franciscan Friars, beginning thus also their cloister,
and not having convenient means to celebrate Mass had
desired of the parish church they might say their Masses
there ; but they denied them, saying they could not allow
them candles and wine. So they came hither and desired
they might in the morning from six till eleven or twelve
say all their Masses, offering to pay for the wine and
candles ; but they did not, for they were not able. Never-
theless here they continued to say Mass for some small
time, till they could accommodate their own cloister
thereunto, and thus our sisters had Masses enough.

As concerning their temporal state it was this. Mrs
Allen gave to the Procuratrix, Sister Shirley, half a year's
board for her daughter, which was ^4, and with that they
bought such things as of necessity they must have for
housekeeping, and had not brought from St Ursula's.
Their fare was eggs and white-meat ; only for the old
Mother and Sister Catharine Allen, she being very sickly,
they had some flesh, and thus they continued some time,
also against Lent, which soon followed, their coming forth
being in February. The old Mother desired the Procura-
trix they might be so enclosed, that worldly folks might no
more come into the house to them. Wherefore she caused
a grate to be made of little wooden rails, parting that room,
which is now the children's lower school, in the midst with
boards, so that it served both for the worldly folks and for
the nuns also.

Almighty God raised friends from time to time

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 73

unexpected, who assisted them, as about a month after
their being here a good Beguine came and offered a piece
of money, about an angel, unto the Procuratrix, saying
that one had desired her to bestow it in pious uses, and
that it came into her mind she could not bestow it better
than upon them "who are, alas! strangers out of your
own country." (The) Procuratrix thanked her heartily
and took the alms, which came very luckily to help them.
Also some of the English in the town a little assisted them,
as Mr Liggons and his wife in particular, (who) came once
before they were enclosed to dine with them, and brought
such a meal as served our sisters about a week after.
Dr Clement also came once from Brussels to see them,
and paid for his diet so long as he continued here, and
afterwards against Lent he sent them figs and raisins ;
and Mrs Allen sent very often some particular thing from
her own table for her daughter, being very sickly, so that
she was well provided for always. The good old Mother
was as fervent to help what she could in the holy Order as
if she had been a young nun ; she sang the versicles in the
choir when need was, which she would sing without book.
The Procuratrix desired her to be the grate-sister, and to
go also to the grate with those that were called for. This
she did for good reasons, as knowing her to be a wise,
discreet woman, and they had many enemies, who, though
they made a fair show, yet did all what they could against
them. She performed this office very willingly, and made
so good a shift, that though she was blind, she could grope
unto the door when any did ring, and take their errand,
then call to some other to have the business despatched.
She also would not be idle, but besides the time of prayer
which was most part of the day, she did some little work
only by feeling, as winding of thread or suchlike thing,
and assisted continually with her counsel the Procuratrix.

In this, meanwhile, we must not omit to declare that
one sister more was fetched hither from St Ursula's upon
the earnest entreaty of one whom they desired to gain for

74 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

a friend, and he promised that if they would take her he
would provide her of sufficient maintenance (which, indeed,
was never performed), wherefore our first sisters procured
leave from the Archbishop for to have her come hither.
Her name was Sister Frances Herbert, daughter to Sir
Edward Herbert, brother to the Earl of Pembroke. She
came hither upon the day of our Holy Father's Transla-
tion, at the end of February, the same month that the
others came, so they were now eight in number.

Some time after this, finding difficulty to have the nuns
to do all the work, the Procuratrix desired Mrs Liggons to
help her unto some good wench for to serve them in the
house, not as a lay-sister but as a hired servant ; so she
found one that desired to be received, who, having served
an English gentleman, could speak a little broken English.
Her, therefore, she took and brought to our monastery
for a servant, who being a good poor soul, a Walloon by
nation, she did our poor sisters very good service, coming
hither about midsummer the same year. Her name was
Hubart, a French name for women, but afterwards at her
profession she took the name of Catharine, by reason that
upon St Catharine's day of this year, 1609, she was admitted
for lay-sister.

About this time, our Lord forgot not His poor servants,
but moved a Catholic gentleman by the means of good
friends to leave a legacy at his death to this new cloister of
St Monica; it was 2^ 100. But, I know not by what
occasion, we received only fourscore, which the Pro-
curatrix did not spend in their daily maintenance, but
made a shift otherwise, and reserved this sum towards the
buying of their house. They were about to buy now a
less house than this. Mr Liggons was content to sell them
Placet, where he dwelled, with all the garden and ground
belonging to it, only reserving some two or three rooms
for himself to live in, all which they should have for ;^400 ;
and whether they bought it or not, he gave them freely of
his own gift a great barn with a little ground to begin to

CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 75

build, if they could get no other house, and promised to
let the nuns dwell in his o-wn house until their building
was ready. This they accepted of gratefully, but went not
yet through with the bargain until afterwards.

About this time our sisters had another accident
happened which troubled much for the present. There
came one day to this monastery the Infanta's ghostly
Father, and being at the grate asked for the Superior,
who presently came to him. He told her that he was sent
by the Princess to take a view of the house, and to certify
her thereof. She instantly let him in, and his interpreter,
Father Hew, Guardian of the Irish Friars. When they
had viewed the house all over, the nuns, who knew not
the meaning thereof, desired the interpreter to entreat the
Father he would let them understand what he intended.
Then he answered that he was to take the house for to be
made a cloister of Teresians, which the Princess would
send here for that end, because she understood we would
not have it. This news we may well suppose was very
unwelcome to our sisters, but the Procuratrix, who was in
the place of Superior, fell down upon her knees and
besought him to have compassion of poor banished
religious, who if they were put out of this house had
nowhere to go ; at which words he was much moved, and
said he would do his endeavour to assist them, for he knew
the Infanta would not require it if it were so prejudicious
to them, as also Father Hew promised to put the said
Father in mind hereof. And so they expected answer
from the Princess with a fearful heart. At length the said
Father Hew brought them word her Highness was con-
tented they should enjoy this house, seeing they were
already in possession thereof, and so that matter was
ended.

It shall not be amiss to set down a strange thing that
happened once to Sister Shirley. She having been some
months in this house, with the many difficulties and con-
tradictions already mentioned, became almost out of hope

76 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

that this monastery should go forward. Going to bed one
night about ten of the clock with a heavy heart expecting
to receive commandment from the Archbishop ere long, as
some had told her, to return back to their old cloister from
whence they came, as she laid herself down and was
spreading her coat to cover her, suddenly in the midst
thereof appeared a glorious shining light, round like unto
a pewter dish, but most bright and clear like the sun or
moon at full (yet there was at that time no sun or moon to
be seen in the firmament). Hereupon she was somewhat
affrighted and could not tell what to make thereof, but
beinof much amazed she would fain with her hand have
put it away, and presently it seemed that the said round
compass parted and spread itself all over the bed in the
likeness of stars. Whereat she was more amazed than
before, and prayed unto God in her mind. After a while it
vanished away, and she gave herself unto rest, but in the
morninof she went to the old Mother and told her all what
happened the night before ; who, when she heard it,
examined what thoughts came into her mind concerning
the thing. She answered : many things came into her
mind, but those which she could best remember and stayed
longest with her, were such as she was loth to tell, because
of the great unlikelihood and impossibility thereof at the
present. Yet the good Mother urged her earnestly to tell
her, and so she said she thought the clear round thing
might signify this cloister of St Monica, and the stars
that came forth of it might betoken the religious that
should live therein. This she affirmed was her thought at
that time; "Although, alas!" said she, "it is unlike to
prove true." But the old Mother comforted her and she
did nothing distrust thereof but hoped the same, yet withal
told her she must prepare herself to suffer something before
this should happen — the which she found to be most true.
For after that, it had assuredly been dissolved with the
many forementioned oppositions and hindrances which it
had, if Almighty God of His great goodness had not still

I
I

CHKONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 77

assisted it. This she set down with her own hand to the
end that it might be a comfort to the weak and faint-
hearted persons, as she esteemed herself to be, to confide
in God, the Worker of all good.

About October of the same year, their troubles whereof
we have spoken being somewhat appeased, they desired to
increase their company. As yet they were but eio-ht in
number, and would hardly perform their duties in the choir ;
as also most of the English nuns that remained at St
Ursula's had written to their parents for means to be able
to remove to this new cloister of their own nation.

Within the Octave of All Saints in the same year, 1609,
upon a Thursday, the Bishop's licence came unto St Ursula's
for eight more to depart. Immediately the Dutch Mother
discharged those that had offices, to wit, Sister Mary
Wiseman, who was Sub-Prioress, and her sister Bridget,
then sick-mistress, and Sister Frances Burrows, Sacristan.
The rest had other lesser employments, all which were now
set free and released by the Bishop of their obedience to
St Ursula's Monastery, and referred unto that of St
Monica's. And after this they packed up such things as
they had in their cells, as the Mother gave them leave, and
their habit and bedding. But these were not called into
the Chapter-house, as the former, but they asked in par-
ticular pardon of each other, the English to the Dutch, and
they again to them, with all kindness. Upon Sunday night
they had recreation in the Refectory as the time before at
the other's parting, and better fare than ordinary, to be
merry together for a farewell, and on Monday the next day
in the morning they heard the first Mass, and they came
down all to the Grate, and took their leaves of each other
with many a weeping eye on both sides, for there was great
love among them. Upon the same Monday, it being the
Feast of the Church of St Saviour's Dedication in Rome
and the 9th of November, came forth from St Ursula's these
eight nuns, to wit : the two sisters Wiseman, whose brother
had promised them maintenance ; Sister Frances Burrow,

78 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

niece to the Lord Vaux, whose cousin, Mrs Brookesby, that
had brought her up, promised ^lo a year for her, but per-
formed it only two or three years ; Sister Ann Bromfield
who had gotten a grant of my Lady Petre of £io a year,
which she faithfully performed for many years, as long as
she lived ; Sister Susan Labourne, daughter to a holy martyr,
for whom the old Countess of Arundell gave now ;^8o once
for all to help her hither. The two sisters Tremain had
nothing, but because they were good souls and fit persons
to help in the Order, both those of St Monica's and those
that came out of St Ursula's were willing to have them.
Sister Mary Skidmore, the youngest, had promise of her
uncle. Sir Richard Farmer, of 20 nobles a year ; moreover,
because she could play the organ and had other good parts,
was gladly taken with them. These eight were named in
the last-mentioned licence of the Bishop, who also went
with hukes in the street in order, but Mrs Worthington
would needs go before with the youngest for to lead the
way. The rest followed by two and two ; the last came
alone with Father Fenn, who was come from St Monica's
to fetch them, and their servant Roger was sent to bring
their things with the waggonmen. They went first to St
Peter's and heard another Mass there, which Father Holbie
(Holtby) celebrated. From thence they went to the
Augustine Friars to visit the Blessed Sacrament of
Miracles which is kept there, and after that Mr Worthing-
ton, without their knowledge, led them also to his house,
having gotten leave of the Archbishop.

After dinner, about two or three of the clock, they came
to this monastery and were kindly received of their sisters
and the old Mother. Having then awhile congratulated with
each other, they went to Evensong together, and at supper
they had recreation in the Refectory for to welcome them
and to rejoice together in our Lord. Upon the Wednesday
after, being St Martin's day, they began their fast for the
Election of a Prioress, and kept silence all that week until
the Vicarious (Vicar) of the Archbishop came. So that

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 79

upon Monday morning, the said Vicarious called them to
give their voices. Then was elected for the first Prioress
of St Monica's, Sister Mary Wiseman, who as we have
said had the most voices at St Ursula's in the election
there two years before. They went then into the Choir
and installed her in the dignity ; after that they came to the
Chapter-house and there in the presence of the Vicarious,
all the nuns, as the manner is, bowed in obedience unto her.
After that she chose for Sub- Prioress, Sister Elizabeth
Shirley, who was before in the place both of Superior and
Procuratrix. They chose, moreover, for Arcaria, Sister
Bridget Wiseman, and for Procuratrix, Sister Margaret
Tremain. Then our monastery was now to the honour of
God confirmed and established, which Almighty God of
His goodness hath since prospered so well, as shall appear
by that which followeth. But the house was not as yet
bought, for supposing that the new Abbot would raise the
price, they went in hand with Mr Liggons in the bargain of
Placet aforementioned.

So about Christmas that house was bought for the
price of ;^400, and forthwith they began to build upon the
ground more room, for it sufficed not of itself to make a
monastery, and when they had bestowed almost ^loo in
building there, one day the new Abbot of this house coming
upon occasion that way, asked for what that building was.
They told him it was for the English nuns that lived in his
house. He hearing this, and having need of money at the
present, gave them to understand that he would stand to
the bargain which his predecessor had made, and they
should have this house for the same price as before.
Whereupon the Vicarious having seen both the house of
Placet and this, judged this one far more convenient for the
religious than that other, by reason it stood very high and
old and wanted water, with other discommodities, so he
advised our sisters if they could to break off with Mr Liggons
and to buy this house ; which they proposed unto him, and
although he was loth to undo the sale, it being already

80 CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

signed and sealed, yet such was his charity, that for to do
our nuns a pleasure, he was content to disannul the same,
and they were content also to forego the building made
there. But Mr Liggons afterwards at his death requited
them again, leaving us ;^8o for a legacy as the books of
account do show. So this house was bought in the year
1610.

About this time the Rev. Father Baldwin of the Society
of Jesus being to leave his residence at Brussels, at his
departure reckoning up his accounts found what money he
had in keeping of Sister Shirley's, our Sub-Prioress, which
her friends at several times had sent her for relief out of
England, when she lived at St Ursula's, and was amounted
to above ^80, so he left order that the said sum should be
sent hither to this cloister which also helped well at the
beginning.

But to say something of our Sisters' descent and of their
parents which ought chiefly to be remembered. First, our
Reverend Mother Mary Wiseman was of very holy parent-
age. Her father lived and died a constant confessor of the
Catholic religion, named Thomas Wiseman, of Braddock in
Essex, an Esquire of ancient family, who suffered much for
his conscience, his house being a receptacle for all priests
and religious men. He brought up his children not only
very virtuously but also to learning of the Latin tongue, as
well the daughters as the sons, himself being their master.
Besides that, in his house was order kept resembling a
monastery ; at the meals for half an hour was something
read, unless strangers were there of a higher degree than
himself, otherwise this worthy custom was not omitted.
He himself lived for the most part a reclused life, by reason
that being troubled with the gout he resided alone in his
chamber, giving himself to prayer and holy lecture, as also
every Friday he would make an exhortation to his children
in Latin, thereby to exercise them in that language, as also
to give good instruction. By which worthy education they
profited so much that, having four daughters, the two eldest

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 81

came over seas, and became nuns of St Bridget's Order, and
have both governed the monastery at Lisbon in Portugal,
being chosen at several times by mutual interchange
Abbesses, and at this present year (1631) one is Abbess
and the other Prioress. The two younger daughters
came to St Ursula's to St Augustine's Order, leavino-
the kind cherishings of most loving parents to embrace
the strictness of poverty and want whereof we have
spoken ; such was their fervour to God's service even in
tender age following the example of their most virtuous
parents.

For to speak now of their worthy mother, whose life
hath partly been set down by some that knew her well ;
her name before her marriage was Jane Vacham (Vaughan),
her father being of ancient house in Wales, but her mother
of the blood royal. She being left a ward by her parents'
death, passed many troubles and molestations to avoid
marriage, by those who had her in keeping, for having no
mind to marry by reason that she was drawn through God's
instinct to delight in spiritual things. Her uncle by the
mother's side, named Mr Guinnith, who was a priest and
had been curate of a parish church in London in Catholic
times, could not assist her in all so well as he desired, beinor
a long time kept in prison when heresy came in. But at
length getting freedom he was desirous to watch this his
niece worthily, and as should be best for her soul's good.
Wherefore, one day he met with Mr Wiseman, a young
gentleman of the Inns of Court, and liked him so well that,
upon the proposition of one in the company, he became
content to marry his niece with him, and brought him unto
her, persuading her, if she could like him, to take him for
her husband. But she was ever very backward in that
matter, insomuch that having no less than thirty suitors,
some whereof had seven years sought her goodwill, yet she
could not settle her love upon any. But now it was God's
Will that she should yield herein to her uncle and so was
married to Mr Wiseman, who brought her home to his

F

82 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

house in Essex, where she found both father and mother-
in-law and a houseful of brothers and sisters, among whom
she passed some difficulty, not having things always to her
mind, but all happened to make her virtue more refined.
For she ever carried herself both loving and dutiful to her
husband, who loved her dearly, as also to his kindred, and
assisted them all in what she could, living in the state of
marriage irreprehensible and bringing up her children in all
virtue. After her husband's decease, exercising the works
of a holy widow, it pleased our Lord to rank her not only
among the troops of holy confessors, but also as we may
say of valiant martyrs, and of the most famous women that
England afforded in this our miserable times of heresy, for
she was ever most fervent and zealous in religion, and so
devout in prayer, that she was once heard to say by her
daughter, our Reverend Mother: "It seems," said she,
*' that if I were tied to a stake and burned alive for God, I
should not feel it, so great is the love to Him which I feel
in my soul at this time." Wherefore, Almighty God to
make her love to Him indeed apparent, permitted that
Topcliffe, the cruel persecutor, did vehemently set against
her, and, at length, only for proving that she had relieved a
Catholic priest by giving him a French crown, brought her
before the Bar to be condemned to death for felony. But
she constantly refused to be condemned by the jury,
saying that she would not have twelve men accessory to
her innocent death, for she knew, although they could not
by rights find her guilty, yet they should be made to do it
when her enemies pleased. Hereupon they told her that
she was by the law to be pressed to death, if she would not
be tried by the jury.

But she stood firm in her resolutions, being well content
to undergo so grievous a martyrdom for the love of Christ ;
yea, when they declared unto her the manner of that death
in the hardest terms, as the custom is at their condemnation,
the worthy woman, hearing that she must be laid with her
arms a cross when the weights were to be put on her,

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 83

exulted with joy and said: " Now, blessed be God that I
shall die with my arms a cross as my Lord Jesus." And
after this, when her sons lamented with sorrow, she rejoiced
and cheered them up. There was at the same time a
Catholic gentleman, named Mr Barnes, brought also before
the Bench to be arraigned with her, who being a man yet
had not such courage as she to be pressed to death, but
was content to be tried by the jury, and they were made to
find him guilty, as she knew well enough, although by right
they could not do it, and so he was condemned to hanging
for felony. But neither he nor she died at that time, for
Almighty God accepting of this courageous matron's fervour
to martyrdom, would not have her to depart so soon out of
this life that she might have a longer time of suffering for
Him, as also do more good works for His honour : therefore
He ordained that Queen Elizabeth, who then bore the sceptre
in England, hearing of her condemnation, stayed the
execution. For by bribes her son got one to speak a good
word unto the Queen in his mother's behalf. Who when
she understood how for so small a matter she should have
been put to death, rebuked the justices of cruelty and said
she should not die. Notwithstanding, both she and Mr
Barnes were in prison as long as the Queen lived, in which
time Topcliffe ceased not often to molest her with divers
vexations, insomuch that she was once made for a good
space to lie with a witch in the same room, who was put in
prison for her wicked deeds, and it was a strange thing to
see that many resorting to the same witch there in prison,
to know things of her by art of magic, she never had the
power to exercise her necromancy in the room where Mrs
Wiseman was, but was forced to go away into another
place.

One thing also we will not omit, which was a miraculous
thing. Upon a time her friend Topcliffe passed under her
window, being mounted upon a goodly horse going to the
Queen, and Mrs Wiseman espying him thought it would
not be amiss to wash him a little with holy water, therefore

84 CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

took some which she had by her, and flung it upon him and
his horse as he came under her window. It was a wonder-
ful thing to see ; no sooner had the holy water touched the
horse, but presently it seems he could not endure his rider,
for the horse began so to kick and fling that he never
ceased till his master Topcliffe was flung to the ground,
who looked up to the window and raged against Mrs
Wiseman calling her an old witch, who, by her charms, had
made his horse to lay him on the ground, but she with
good reason laughed to see that holy water had given him
so fine a fall.

After Queen Elizabeth's death this holy woman lived
some years out of prison, but wanted not good occasions to
exercise patience by one that was allied to her, a most
perverse fantastical woman who used her very ill, so that
both in prison and out of prison she wanted not crosses to
make her the more renowned by a long martyrdom. In all,
as I find written of her, she exulted in mind and abounded
in spiritual comfort out of the loyal and fervent love which
she bore to God, until at length in the year 1610, when at
length her merits were accumulated unto a greater measure
for eternal glory, she fell into a most grievous and painful
sickness, where amidst her great pains she would rejoice
and give Almighty God thanks that He pleased to accept
of these her sufferings in place of greater which she had
desired to pass for His sake, and coming to her happy death
the last words which she said to the priest were : Pater,
gaudeo in Deo (Father, I rejoice in God), and so rested in
our Lord.

These were the parents of our first Prioress, who had
also four sons ; two died priests of the Society of Jesus, the
other died a good Catholic, and the eldest. Sir William
Wiseman, is yet living, a man more of heaven than the
world. Our Reverend Mother was professed in the year
1595, upon the 8th of May, changing her name which was
Jane ; and Sister Bridget (Wiseman) upon the i ith of June,
together with Sister Margaret Garnett and Sister Rook-

CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 85

wood, who died about the time that the Dutch Mother was
elected, of a consumption, very sweetly, as she had lived,
for she was a mild, virtuous soul, sweet and affable in
her conversation, and beloved of all her sisters. So she
rested blessedly in our Lord.

PREFACE TO CHAPTER THE THIRD

A Novice from Queen Elizabeth's Court. The Mother of the Maids
of Honour. The Copleys of Gatton. Anthony Copley. The Gages
of Firle. The Throckmorton family. Catholic gaiety amid persecu-
tions. Sister Shirley's MS. Beautiful death of Mother Margaret
Clement. " Let me do as the swan doth, sing you a song before my
death."

From the Catholic manor-houses of Essex and Lei-
cestershire, our chronicler takes us now to the Court of
Queen Elizabeth, where the widow of Edward Bromfield,
a Surrey gentleman who had died a Catholic, held the
office of mistress to the maids of honour. Her daughter
Anne lived with her at Court ; both were Protestants.
Sir Edward Bromfield, who was perhaps Anne's brother,
was a Justice of the Peace for Surrey, and was one of the
magistrates before whom Cuthbert Clapton, the Venetian
Ambassador's chaplain, was arraigned at the Old Bailey
in 1641.

Anne Bromfield's highest ambition was for a brilliant
marriage. Her ambitious thoughts helped to keep her
free of dangerous entanglements at that profligate Court,
and our chronicler tells the touching story of how she left
the Court for the Cloister of Louvain, and became the
Bride of the King. She was one of Father John Gerard's
converts.

Our chronicler gives Mrs Bromfield her correct title
at Court, the " Mother of the Maids." Some information
on this lady's duties may be gathered from the following :

8«

The Four SisThkb Tlwsiai.l, Canonesses, O.S.A.

naiinfhlcis ol Francis Tiinstall of Wjcliffc, and of Cecily Constable, daughter of
Jolm, Viscount Dunbar.

From Miniatari-a Inhnujituj to .S? Atujuslinc's Priory.

[Face page SO.

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 87

" Orders signed by the King and Queen's Majesty,
November 1631 : —

"The Maydes of Honour to come into the Presence
Chamber before eleven of the clock, and to goe to prayers,
and after prayers to attend untill the Queene be sett at
dynner. And again at two of the clock to returne into
the said Chamber, and there to remaine untill supper
time, when they shall retyre into theire chamber.

** And that they goe not at any time out of the Court
without leave asked of the Lord Chamberlaine, Vice-
Chamberlaine, or of her Majestic.

" And that the mother of the maydes see all these*
orders concerning the maydes duly observed, as she will
answer the contrary ; and if she shall find any refractory-
ness in those that should obey, that she acquaint the Lord
Chamberlaine or Vice-Chamberlaine therewith."

The most extraordinary of the family histories to which
we are introduced by our chronicler is that of the Copleys
of Gatton in Surrey, which follows the touching story of
Sister Anne Bromfield, from the same county. Helen
Copley, with her Sister Mary, who for twenty-eight years
was Sub-Prioress of the community, were the first choir-
novices received after the foundation of St Monica's and
were professed together in 161 2; Clare Copley, their
cousin, in 1624; and Dorothy Musgrave, whose mother
was a Copley, in 1632. The head of the Copleys of
Gatton claimed the barony of Welles, between which and
his claim stood an unreversed attainder ; Leo, Lord
Welles, his ancestor, slain at Towton in 1461, having had
the misfortune to have fought on the Lancastrian side.
Our chronicler, regardless of attainders, gives Sir Thomas
Copley his title of " Lord Welles."

The family was one of wealth and influence in Surrey.
"The celebrated borough of Gatton," writes Lingard,
quoting from the Loseley MSS., "was (in Elizabeth's
reign) the property of the Copleys, and the nomination of
the representative was possessed by Mrs Copley. But

88 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

that lady was not considered well affected, on which
account the Queen ordered that her own nominees, or at
least well-affected persons, should be returned." In 1621,
Sir George More reported to the House of Commons that
John Mollis, second son of Lord Houghton, and Sir Henry
Bretton, both papists, had been returned for Gatton by
Mr Copley's influence, he owning almost all the town,
while Sir Thomas Gresham and Sir Thomas Bludder bad
been chosen by the freeholders. The House declared the
election of the two papists void.

Sir Thomas Copley of Gatton, grandfather of Sisters
Helen and Mary, was the only son of Sir Roger Copley
of Roughway in Sussex, his mother, Elizabeth Shelley,
being the daughter of Sir Richard Shelley, Lord Prior of
St John of Jerusalem. Bridget, Sir Thomas's sister, by
her marriaee with Richard Southwell of Horsham, St
Faith's, in Norfolk, became the mother of the glorious
martyr, Venerable Robert Southwell, S.J., who died at
Tyburn, 21st February 1595. Sir Thomas, though
brought up a Catholic, lost the faith in early youth, and
(a singular example in those days), was " a hot heretic " in
Mary's reign and a resolute Catholic in that of Elizabeth.
Lord Howard of Effingham offered him his sister in
marriaore, but Sir Thomas had chosen a fairer bride, as the
cfood chronicler tells us, and married Elizabeth, the
daughter of Sir John Lutterell. The vindictive Howard
had his revenge at hand in the cruel laws against popish
recusants, and by the Queen's favour entered into posses-
sion of the estates of the man who had rejected his sister's
hand. Harassed and despoiled, the noble confessor of the
faith crossed the seas and entered the service of the King
of Spain. At the Court of France he was also held in high
honour, and created a Baron by the French King. But
he would never renounce his loyalty to Elizabeth, and in
his letter to Burghley insists that in accepting a French
title, he never meant to renounce his allegiance ; nor would
he share in the plots of some of the English exiles, so that

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 89

the exiled Countess of Northumberland had to caution one
of these, William Cotton, "to have nothing to do with Sir
Thomas Copley." Burghley seems to have retained some
friendship for him, and urged his return to England, of
course at the sacrifice of his faith. Sir Thomas died in
Flanders. His eldest son had been knighted by the King
of France, and died at the French Court in his nineteenth
year.

William, Sir Thomas's second son and his heir, whose
heroic constancy in the faith rivalled his father's, made a
fruitless attempt to recover the estates. His aunt
Catherine, Sir Thomas's sister, had married Sir Thomas
Lane, and their Protestant son. Sir William Lane, succeeded
in usurping the rights of his recusant cousin. Among the
English exiles was one Thomas Prideaux, of that ancient
Devon house whose monuments are to be seen in many a
Devonshire village church. Unlike most of his family,
such as the Nicholas Prideaux whom we find denouncing
as a recusant one of Sir John Arundel's servants at
Lanherne, Thomas Prideaux's faith remained unshaken,
and we find him on ist September 1574, writing to his
brother Richard in England, to whom he sends his wife
and daughter on a visit, and describing his sorrows and
desolation. His wife was Helen Clement, sister to Mother
Margaret, the foundress of our community. William
Copley met the family in Spain, and Magdalen Prideaux,
the daughter referred to, became his wife, and the mother
of our two Canonesses. The rest of their story I leave to
our chronicler.

Now we come to the strange career of Anthony
Copley, Sir Thomas's fourth son, and the father of our
Sister Clare. Of the promise of his youth we have three
strangely diverse witnesses. Father Parsons, S.J., our
chronicler, and Topcliffe the priest-hunter. Anthony had
tried his vocation at the English College in Rome, and
Father Parsons writes of him : " Some of us knew him as
a little idle-headed boy in the English College, so light-

90 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

witted as once, if we remember well, he went up with a
rose in his mouth to preach, or make the tones, as they
call them, before the College out of a pulpit." The
chronicler says that "he sought to raise his fortune by
gaining the favour of great men." Topcliffe wrote to the
Queen that Anthony Copley is "the most desperate youth
that liveth. . . . Copley did shoot at a gentleman last
summer and killed an ox with a musket, and in Horsham
Church threw his dagger at the parish clerk and stuck it
in a seat in the church. There liveth not the like I think
in England for sudden attempts : nor one upon whom I
have more good grounds for watchful eyes for his sister
Gage's and his brother-in-law Gage's sake."

Though a layman, Anthony Copley flung himself into
the controversy between the secular clergy and the Jesuits.
His language on his adversaries is quite unprintable in
these pages. No sooner had James I. come to the throne
than Copley v^ith Sir Griffin Markham and others, entered
into the insane conspiracy to seize the King, known as
" The Bye." John Gage of Firle, Anthony's brother-in-law,
denounced the conspirators, and Copley was forthwith
arrested, in July 1603. After some resistance he made a
full confession of all he knew and probably something
more. His accomplices were in consequence apprehended,
and two priests, Watson and Clark, executed. On i8th
August 1604, his parHon was granted, but he had to go
into exile, his brother William being heavily fined on his
account. Of his wife our chronicler only says that she
was "a gentlewoman of the Isle of Wight," who used
occasionally to conform, "living in and out of the Church,"
and eventually died a Catholic. With the help of her
saintly uncle William, his daughter. Sister Clare, became
a nun at St Monica's.

Through all his vagaries, Anthony Copley firmly
adhered to the Catholic Faith. The chronicler of St
Monica's reveals the end of his erratic career. In company
with Ambrose Vaux, he had gone on a pilgrimage to

CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 91

Jerusalem, was there, she adds, dubbed knight by the
Guardian of the Holy Sepulchre, and died on his home-
ward journey. He is, of course, annually commemorated
in the suffrages of the community. His daughter lived a
fervent and devout nun for fifty-six years at St Monica's
till her death in 1679. Yet it looks like an inherited touch
of her father's restlessness that, as the chronicler writes,
"she was so open-hearted that no priest (that is to say, no
English priest) of whatever Order came to the grate but
she if possible got leave to speak to him," which, the writer
adds, used to leave her somewhat disquieted in mind.
Very likely. John Copley, another son of Sir Thomas
Copley, was admitted as an alumnus of the English College
in 1599, at the age of twenty-two. He was born at
Louvain. In 161 2 a book appeared in England, written
by "John Copley, Seminarie priest," wherein the author
gives "the reasons of his late unenforced departure from
the Church of Rome and of his incorporation to the
present Church of England."

As a reparation for this scandal stands forth the heroic
example of Margaret Copley, sister to our two Canonesses.
She had married John Gage of Firle, and was arrested
together with Venerable Anne Line as both were hearing
the Mass of Venerable Francis Page, S.J. The two last
were martyred ; Mr and Mrs Gage were both sentenced to
death, but respited on their way to the place of execution.
One of their children was a Jesuit, another a secular priest
and confessor of the faith, a third was the unhappy
apostate on whose testimony Venerable Peter Wright was
condemned and executed. The fourth was Colonel Henry
Gage, slain near Abingdon during the Civil War. This
noble and saintly cavalier was the ideal of a Christian
soldier. His lofty stature, graceful bearing, and dauntless
heroism made him the favourite of King Charles I. and
the idol of his soldiers. Clarendon, to whom he was
intimately known, admired him above all the royal officers,
though Clarendon was a staunch Protestant. The

92 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

Chancellor relates that when Sir Arthur Aston, himself a
Catholic, told the King " that Gage was the most Jesuited
papist alive, and had a Jesuit that lived with him" (Vener-
able Peter Wright), and Charles had thought right to
caution the Colonel, he replied : " That he had never
dissembled his religion, nor ever would ; that he knew
no witness could be produced who had ever seen him at
Mass in Oxford, though he heard Mass every day." As
if to emphasise the strange contradictions in this extra-
ordinary family, a Colonel Copley at this very time was in
arms against his King in the army of the Parliament.
Dames Mary and Alexia Copley were Benedictine nuns at
Dunkerque.

Under the title of "A Maryland Pioneer," the Rev.
W. P. Treacy in the Month for July 1886, give a sketch of
the life of Father Thomas Copley, S.J., the brother of our
Sisters Mary and Helen Copley. Born at Madrid about
1594, he entered the Jesuit novitiate at Louvain, was on
the English mission in 1624, obtained in 1633 a royal
exemption from the penalties of recusancy through some
Court influence, and in 1636 was named Superior of the
Maryland mission. Thence, ten years later, he was sent
in chains to England, but returned to America about
1648, and died in 1653, being known in earlier times to
the colonists as Thomas Copley, Esq., and afterwards
taking the name of Fisher.

Of Dame Mary Copley, O.S.B., of Dunkerque, the
Teignmouth Records say that she was professed in 1679,
at the age of nineteen, that her eldest brother married,
two other brothers were religious, her eldest sister was a
Canoness, two others Poor Clares at Gravelines, and the
remaining sister came to Dunkerque (Dame Alexia).

The profession of Margaret Throckmorton, the future
Prioress, on St Lawrence's day, 161 1, calls for some notice
of this ancient and distinguished Catholic family of
Warwickshire.

In the days of Henry the Eighth, Sir George Throck-

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 93

morton was imprisoned in the Tower by order of Crom-
well, who coveted his noble seat at Cougrhton, for refusino-
the oath of supremacy. The good old knight's firmness
in the faith was invincible, but Queen Catharine Parr
who was Lady Throckmorton's niece, saved his life and
obtained his freedom. A full list of those of the family
who consecrated themselves to God in religion, I am not
yet able to give ; but it would be a long one ; Sir George's
own aunt was the last Abbess of Denny.

Under Elizabeth, Sir George's grandchildren, Francis,
Thomas, and Edward, were among the noblest of our con-
fessors of the faith. They were the children of Sir John
(not Sir Nicholas, as stated in the "Life" of Edward,
given in Foley's Records) Throckmorton, Chief- Justice
of Wales, who for a time unhappily conformed, but whose
house was always a secure refuge for hunted priests.
Edward, who died a scholastic S.J., having been received
into the Society on his deathbed, was one of those angelic
youths whom we can only compare with St Aloysius or St
Stanislaus. Thomas, after being cruelly racked in the
Tower, was set at liberty, and was subsequently engaged
to be married to Mary Allen, the Cardinal's niece, but
died in 1595 before the marriage could take place; Mary
Allen subsequently married Mr Thomas Worthington of
Blainscowe in Lancashire. Francis was executed at
Tyburn, after being three times racked, in 1584. The
charge against the two brothers was one of conspiracy in
behalf of Mary, Queen of Scots. Dr Richard Barrett wrote
from Rheims to Father Agazzarri, S.J., Rector of the
English College at Rome : " Without any doubt the cause
of their sufferings is their faith and piety towards God, and
their devotion and loyalty to the Apostolic See." Their
sister, Ann, became the wife of Sir William Wigmore of
Lucton in Herefordshire and the mother of Lady Abbess
Wigmore, O.S.B., of Pontoise. Her granddaughter,
Bridget, married Richard Vaughan of Courtfield, of whom
more hereafter.

94 CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

Six years after the judicial murder or martyrdom of
her kinsman, Margaret (in religion Sister Magdalen)
Throckmorton, the future Prioress of Louvain, was born.
Her parents were John Throckmorton, a grandson of Sir
George, and Agnes Wilford ; her eldest brother, Sir
Robert Throckmorton of Weston Underwood and
Coughton. From childhood she lived amid the noise of
strife and persecution. Coughton Hall was one of the
most frequent hiding-places of the holy martyrs, Fathers
Garnett and Oldcorne, S.J. ; in fact. Fathers Garnett and
Tesimond were concealed at Coughton in the days
immediately following the discovery of the Powder Plot,
just as at an earlier date while Blessed Edmund Campian
was in prison, we find the Council WTiting to the keepers
of Wisbeach, of a meeting that had taken place between
Thomas Pounde and the Martyr at Throckmorton House
in London. Sister Magdalen's mother, the daughter of
Thomas Wilford of Lenham in Lancashire, had seen her
father's London house broken into by the pursuivants in
1584, the year of Francis Throckmorton's execution:
their reports mention among the children of Mr Thomas
Wilford whom they found there, Humphrey, William,
Agnes, Joyce, Frances, and Catharine.

Very wonderfully do religious communities join in one
the past and the present. The silver altar-bread box
beautifully chiselled on both sides of the cover, with the
sacrifice of Abraham on one side, and the sacrifice of the
Cross on the other, given by Prioress Throckmorton, and
bearing the date of 1537, is still in use at St Augustine's
Priory ; so also is the set of red velvet vestments, given by
her uncle, Sir William Roper. The rich silver-gilt mon-
strance, another of her gifts, is still used on great festivals
by our nuns, and the badge of the Blessed Sacrament, now
worn by the Canonesses in token of the Perpetual Adora-
tion on their red scapular, is a picture of Prioress Throck-
morton's monstrance. Since her days it has been enriched
by the jewels of another noble martyr's daughter. Sister

MONSTKANCE GIVEN TO ST MoNICA's COMMUNITY BY THROCKMORTON FAMILY, 1660.
Now at St Augustine's Priory, Newton Abbot.

(fact patje 1)4.

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 95

Ursula Stafford, concerning whom I shall have much to say
later on.

Strange as it may appear, there seems to have been no
lack of gaiety and wit in the persecuted Catholic house-
holds of those days. An odd example is to be found in
Sir Nicholas Throckmorton's poetry, of which I give as a
sample a passage referring to the family distress when his
father, Sir George, was in danger of his life : —

" Our sun eclipsed a long time did not shine,
No joys approached near unto Coughton House;
My sisters they did nothing else but whine,
My mother looked much like a drowned mouse ;
No butter then would stick upon our bread,
We all did fear the loss of father's head."

As the death of the Venerable Mother Margaret
Clement is recorded in the present chapter, we cannot better
close our preface than by giving some passages from her
life from Sister Shirley's manuscript : —

" She never used the service of any more but one, which
was only to dress her cell and chamber, and to fold her
linen ; and all the day after the same nun came into the
common work ; she herself also, if she were not letted
(hindered) by other business. She did also in the winter
come to the common fire ; for the (poverty of) the convent
would not allow her to keep a fire alone. But her own
brother, being a surgeon in the town, gave her certain
loads of wood to that end every year. But this when she
was grown old, for otherwise, I think, she would not have
accepted it ; she had such a great desire to be among the
convent in all places, and thereby come to see that which
was amiss, that she might the better reform it. For which
end she had in her chamber a table, wherein was written
in great hand all the offices in the house : as, the choir,
vestry, refectory, kitchen, bakehouse, washhouse, warm
chamber ; which had every one a hole, and a peg to put
therein, for her better memory, that when she came to the
Chapter, she might correct it.

96 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

" She said, when she first went blind, that a Superior
that could do nothing was not fit to be a Superior any-
longer. Therefore she would not be kept on at any entreaty
of the convent, that made great moan therefore. She did
often go into the houses of office, as the bakehouse, brew-
house, washhouse, and milkhouse, and there she did see
all the faults, and sometimes she would go into the vestry
(wardrobe and sewing-room), and sit among them and
work, for she could never be idle ; yea, when she was stark
blind, she would be winding thread, or something she would
make herself work.

" She was exceedingly neat and cleanly in all things
that she did. The elders would say they could not wonder
enough to see how neatly and decent she went in her linen
and habit when she was a young nun, without any curiosity,
for that she could not abide. Her clothes were never other
than the common sisters', and no oftener washed. She
told me once it was one of the greatest mortifications that
she had, when she came first to be Mother, and must have
another to wash and fold her linen. They did so flatter-
ingly, but because it was a thing that was belonging to
herself, she would not correct it, for that, she said,
would not have edified : which she always observed in
anything that belonged to herself. But, as she said,
she would wait her time, that when she could see it in
their own linen or clothes, she would tell it them roundly.
This I noted to show how careful she was to correct with
edification.

" There is a religious whom I will not name, because
she is yet living, who told me herself, that being one time
in great temptation, and especially in one thing which she
could not overcome, although she had greatly combated
with herself therein, but seeing the wicked enemy with his
motion to grow more violent while her strength failed ; in
a manner she gave herself over to his will, to yield to the
same, taking therein some small delight. But not being
able, through the great goodness of God, to conceal it

CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 97

from the Mother, she told her how it went with her, and
how she took contentment in it. Which our good Mother
hearing, being greatly troubled, admonished her very
earnestly to recant and not to yield, but she, being so
obstinate and hardened therein would nothing relent.
Whereupon was the good Mother with great grief of heart
for the soul which was in such danger for the time ; the
person going to her cell, nothing moved, began to do
something, for pray she could not ; but within a little while
she felt her heart to relent, and her motion of mind to go
off from her wicked purpose, whereat, as she told me her-
self, she was somewhat troubled, having had such con-
tentment before in che same thing, for as yet it seemed
her perverse will was not yet subdued. Thus, as she was
pondering what this might be that moved her heart so
much, she thought perfectly she heard one speak in her
mind : Go, she prayeth for thee before such a picture in
the choir : and going presently she found the good Mother
kneeling before the picture, all bedewed with tears, unto
whom she said : Good Mother, where have you been all
this while ? And she, answering, said : Child, I have
been praying for you : and as she told me herself, from
that time she had no more of the temptation, such was the
effect of her holy prayer.

" After the time that Almighty God had stricken her
with blindness, and that she had with much ado and great
entreaty procured of the head Superiors to be absolved
and released of her office of government, to her great
contentment, but to the great grief and sorrow of all her
convent ; she wholly gave herself to prayer and meditation,
so that I have admired to see a woman of her years to
kneel so long, with her hands folded together, without
any stay to her feeble body. She frequented the Blessed
Sacrament every day with great devotion ; and the nun
that led her to the place where she was to receive, would
often say she found such inward consolation in kneeling
by her, as she could not express. Now after she had been

G

98 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

blind some six years, it happened that some treated of a
separation of the English from the Dutch, to which she
very willingly accorded, as also consented herself to be one
of the first that should begin the new monastery, notwith-
standing her blindness, as also her unableness of body.
Her great zeal was such that she never respected the
great incommodities and inconveniences that she should
find in her own bodily necessities, nor in coming to a
naked house, which had nothing but bare walls, she being
one of the six whom the Bishop appointed to begin the
house, but giving her no authority nor any superiority
over the rest more than her years of profession required.
It was admirable to see with what humility and true sub-
jection she carried herself towards the sister who was
appointed to govern for that time until the election, or if
she had to receive but an apple from the religious of the
other monastery, she would first ask leave, or anything
else that belonged to the straitness of the Order, as if she
had been the least. The sister that was as Superior was
sometimes thereat greatly abashed and ashamed at so
great humility, and would say unto her : Alas ! Mother,
what need have you to be so strict in your obedience ?
you know the head Superiors have released you of the
burthen of the Order ever since your jubilee ; whereat she
would answer with great zeal : God forbid I should come
hither amongst you to seek myself or my own liberty ; far
may that be from me, but rather, the more I have gone
before you in my years and profession, the more I must
show you example by my life and manners. It pleased
God for her comfort to send her two of her nieces to be
religious in the same house with her, in whom she greatly
joyed, and would often say : It is time that I now go to
my home, for I have here two pawns to leave in my place.
And so it seemed that Almighty God had ordained ; for
they were no sooner professed, but, within ten days after.
He called her out of this world, for she always prayed to
God that she might see those two children settled in

CHKONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 99

religion before her death, and it happened to her accord-
ingly.

" She died of a vehement burning ague minorled with a
pleurisy, for which she was twice let blood, and had other
remedies applied, as the doctors of physic appointed, but it
would not avail, but showed evidently that her time was
come. For these her nieces were gone three or four
months above their year of probation, much against her
mind, but their other friends would have it so. But in
that and in any other thing she never desired to seek
herself or her own will, but gave herself over, and so it
pleased God to spare her three months longer, till they
were professed. And, as it were, reflecting of her death,
sitting at the high table by the Mother that was then,
being very merry in recreation, she said unto her : Good
Mother, give me leave to do as the swan doth, that is, to
sing you a song now before my death : which the Prioress
answered, saying : Good Mother, let us hear it : and with
that she set out such a voice, that all the company
admired. It was a Dutch ditty, but the matter was of
the Spouse and the Bridegroom. This was her last, for
she never came to the Refectory after ; for the next day,
being Friday, she, sitting in the choir in her place and
reading with the convent a dirge for the month, her sick-
ness took her vehemently with a burning fit ; yet would
she not stir till the Office was out ; and then she was
led to her cell, and lived but four days after, for the
fever was most violent, but she showed great patience
therein.

" It happened I spake to her in this her sickness, and
bewailed the case of one person who was not yet settled
among us, fearing lest by temptation she should depart
from us, but she answered me again with a great courage :
Child, you shall see by God His grace she shall overcome
all things. I being no sooner gone, but she fell to her
prayers, so earnestly and so loud that our Rev. Father
Confessor, coming in to see her, heard plainly the words ;

100 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

for it was contrary to her wonted manner, for she did
seldom use to move her lips in her prayer, but sometimes I
have seen the tears trickle down without changing her
countenance. But now being blind, and seeing nobody by
her, she thought she might speak out her mind to Almighty
God, but our Father sitting still till he thought she had
done, said aloud to her : Amen, Mother. She started up :
O, is there anybody there? and presently turning herself
again, she began all the same in Dutch. And we might
well know that it was for some person that needed some
fortitude and constancy, whereby I gathered that as she
had her whole life withstood the wicked enemy in all his
snares that he laid for poor religious, she persevered therein
until the last breath.

" The day before she died, the Mother came unto her,
saying : Good Mother, I humbly beseech you to be mindful
of us your poor children, when you shall come into the
heavenly wine-cellar to be inebriated: and with that she
grasped her by the hand, and said : O Mother, shall I
come to drink of the wine indeed ? but when, when ? And
presently she called for the Blessed Sacrament and the
holy oils, which she received with great devotion, reading
with us as well as she could, for then her speech began to
fail, and so continued till after midnight, and then she fell
into a deadly sleep, and so at 4 o'clock in the morning
she gave up her spirit, which made me think that our Lord
preserved her from feeling the great pains of the agony of
death, for she had a great terror to think thereof all her
lifetime."

Such was the most happy death of Mother Margaret
Clement. It forms a fitting companion picture to that of
her saintly mother, the heroic lady who succoured the dying
Carthusian martyrs amid the horrors of Newgate prison.
The graces that have been showered on the community
during three centuries, have made their long history a
worthy continuation of its noble beginnings.

{Louvain MSS.; Foley's Records, SJ. ; Father Morris's

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 101

Troubles of Our Catholic Forefathers ; Clarendon's History
of the Revolution ; Calendar of State Papers ; MSS. Records
of St Scholasticds Abbey, Teignmouth ; Lipscombe's
History of Buckinghamshire ; S. C. Hall's Baronial Halls
of England.)

CHAPTER III

From the Opening of St Monica's to the Death of Mother
Margaret Clement, 1609-1612.

We come next to our Sub-Prioress, of whom much mention

hath alrea^dy been made. She was daughter to (Sir) John

Shirley of Shirley in Leicestershire, the chiefest house of

that name, and sister to Sir George Shirley, Baronet ;

whose conversion, showing the great mercy of God, we

will here set down. She was until twenty years of age

brought up an earnest heretic, and being very sickly, her

brother George, a good Catholic, was desirous to have her

come to live with him, he being unmarried, and so she

kept his house for six years till he was married, in which

time it pleased God to induce her to the Catholic religion

in this manner. She being exceeding obstinate in her

opinion, the more her brother or any of her kindred, both

priests and others, would seek to persuade her, the more

perverse she remained, whereupon they gave her over to

God's mercy. And here we may note what a pretty way

the Divine wisdom took to allure this wandering soul to

His service. It happened that she, governing her brother's

house upon a time, stood in need of some tape or incle for

some necessary thing, and there coming a poor woman to

the door a-begging who could weave incle as the manner

is in England, she agreed with her to weave her some, but

she would be by her to see her warp it in the manner that

she desired. There being no room long enough in the

house, they went both to the church that stood right before
102

[Focf piigr lO-i.

CHKONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 103

the house, which was very long and large, for to warp the
tape. The poor beggar-woman supposing her to be a
Catholic, as the master of the house and all the rest were,
and hoping perhaps to get some better alms by praising
the old religion, as she termed it, began to discourse
thereof ; the other hearing it let her say what she would,
esteeming it a base thing to contend with a beggar ; who
took first occasions to speak of the monuments of that
same church wherein they were, which had not been much
defaced, he being a Catholic that was lord of it. The
woman said then that churches and such devout things as
were there could not be made for this new relicfion.
Moreover she recounted a strange thing which happened
in her country in Derbyshire, saying she knew well all the
parties. A woman being there in labour in the town where
she dwelt, neighbours were called, as the manner is, and
among them the minister's wife also came. The woman
called upon our Blessed Lady, which the parson's wife
hearing, forbade her to call any more upon that name, and
at length threatened her that if she persisted she would
take all the wives from her and she should be left alone.

But the good woman cried still. Blessed Mary, help me.
Whereupon the minister's wife took away all the nurses.
When they were gone she beheld a goodly Lady clothed
all in white come into the chamber and approach near to
her in the manner of a midwife, laid her in bed, and the child
wrapped in clothes was laid decendy by her, and then she
vanished away. The minister's wife, thinking now that
she had corrected herself and would no more call on our
Blessed Lady as before, took the women and went in again,
and when they all again came into the room, they found to
their great amazement the woman laid in her bed and the
child by her. The minister's wife being much astonished,
and asking how she came to be so well, she answered that
the Lady to whom she had called for help had done it, and
presently the minister's wife was stricken stark blind,
remaining still so at this present. When the beggar-

104 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

woman related this, Elizabeth Shirley hearing it with good
attention, and knowing the place herself, as also some of
those whom the beggar named to be present at this strange
miracle, answered the poor woman : Perhaps that might
chance by some deceit ; but the beggar confirmed it more
earnestly, and said that some who saw this were wholly
turned from their relisfion and could never more be induced
to go to the church. Divers other things she declared that
happened in that her country (of Derbyshire) concerning
the ministers and their evil life, all which made such an
impression on the other's heart, that she became greatly
troubled in mind and knew not what to do, but being thus
tormented in herself, dared not to utter it to anybody by
reason that she had been so obstinate before in her false
opinion. She, notwithstanding, would now secretly steal
Catholic books of her companions, and read them by her-
self, which before she never would have looked into, yet
did she not this, as she related since, with intention to profit
thereby, but to find something to cavil at, that she might
quietly set herself as stiff as before. But Almighty God,
who had cast a loving eye on her, of His infinite mercy
and goodness did not leave the matter so, but still inwardly
moved her more and more so that she could have no rest
in herself. And thus greatly afflicted, one night going to
bed and not being able to take any sleep, she kneeled down
by the bedside and besought our Lord that he would
vouchsafe to show her whether she were in the right way
or no, and to cease that storm which so molested her. This
she prayed with such a violent motion as if her heart would
have broken, and after engaged to take some rest Then
being fallen into a slumber she seemed to see a fine great
bird or fowl, of all kind of fair glorious colours that pleased
her mightily, which she to her seeming with all her brothers
and sisters endeavoured earnestly to catch, but she only
was the first that could touch or lay hand thereon, and
therewith being frightened, she seemed to hear One say to
her : Fear not for 'tis the Holy Ghost ; and awaking there-

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 105

with found herself wholly quieted. Whereupon she resolved
to seek some means to be instructed in the truth, and so
became a Catholic.

After this, loving still the world, yet by reason of her
sickly body she could not take much pleasure therein, and
being also wearied with travelling up and down for safety
of conscience, at the last resolved with herself to take some
course of religion, for she never had any mind to marry.
Thus did the Divine goodness seek still to draw her nearer
to Him by His holy inspiration. Wherefore at length
over the seas she comes into these Low Countries. But
here the devil laid a snare to divert her design, for being
arrived at Antwerp and meeting there with a gentlewoman
that was her old acquaintance, and one whom she loved
very entirely, having discovered to her what intention she
had, the other being very poor and hoping to make some
advantage, having a great charge of children, persuaded
her to sojourn with her and to leave her desire to religion ;
telling her many inconveniences and difficulties which she
should find in the religious state, and especially in that
cloister of St Ursula's at Louvain wherein she determined
to enter. Our principiant in religion was hereupon much
daunted, and began to determine her return into England,
being very weak-minded. Which when she declared to
her ghostly Father, he grieved thereat and persuaded her
earnestly to tell him the cause that moved her, but she
would in nowise do it, fearing the person might come into
some discredit. He seeing nothing could be done for all
his admonitions, at last broke out into these words, saying :
" I do assure you, that if anybody through evil report hath
thus averted your mind from the former good intention,
they can never make satisfaction in this life, except they
go into religion themselves." These words struck her to
the heart, for our Lord had a care she should not wholly
be overcome, and therefore made him to say this by the
instinct of the Holy Ghost to cure the wound that was
given her by this dangerous blow ; for she hiring this and

106 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

loving the other party so well, knowing her to be a married
woman who could not take that state on her, it moved her
so that she resolved again to go forward in her good
purpose, how dear soever it might cost her, for she still had
great fear and terror thereof. She went therefore to
Louvain, but into the monastery she could not enter so
soon, her conflicts were not yet crowned with victory.
Wherefore she took a chamber in the house of Mrs Allen,
who kept house then, her daughter being not married, and
there she boarded herself and maid, who came with her out
of England and had also desire to religion. Wherefore
being loth to hinder her, she offered to put her into the
cloister and to give her all things that she needed, which
the maid refused and would in nowise enter unless she
herself did enter, which also moved her much for she was
loth to hinder the maid, though as yet she could not wholly
resolve herself. Wherefore upon a time going to the
Jesuits' church to hear Mass as her custom was, having
first talked awhile with one of the Fathers who was her
confessor, she went towards the high altar and there kneeling
down before a devout picture of our Saviour,, she burst out
into such a vehement weeping as if her heart would have
broken. Whereupon her ghostly Father coming up
requested her to restrain such a violent motion, saying that
people in the church would either think him to be very
rigorous or that she had committed some great sin, yet
hardly could she cease from weeping. At last lifting up
her hands and eyes towards the picture, which indeed was
a very devout one of our Lord crowned with thorns and
His face bedewed with tears, at that time she supposed in
her heart that our Saviour looking on her said three times :
Fear nor, all will be well : and presently succeeded such a
calm in her mind as could not be expressed and from
thenceforward she never felt the least disquietness in this
kind. After this she sent to the Rector, desiring to have
the said picture for herself, giving him a better to set there
in the place,, and so she got it and carried it into the

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 107

monastery with her, where she entered soon and the fore-
said maid with her. After that, although the hard fare
was at first some difficulty unto her, nevertheless through
the good counsels and comfort of the old Mother she went
through all in such wise that God concurred to give her
far better health than she had before in this world, and
was able to observe the Order in all strictness, so that she
herself wondered thereat, knowing well the pusillanimity
of her mind if God had not assisted her. She was
professed in the year of our Lord 1596 upon St Nicholas
of Tolentino's day, the loth of September.

Unto this conversion and calling to religion of our first
Sub-Prioress we will adjoin another of the elders, to wit,
Sister Anne Bromfield, because it showeth evidently with
what a powerful hand Almighty God calleth some unto
him amidst all the pleasures of the world, and how the
Divine wisdom having in the forementioned disposed
things sweetly, in this disposed them strongly. She was
daughter to Edward Bromfield, Esquire, in the county of
Surrey, who living long a schismatic yet two years before
his death was reconciled and died a good Catholic. After
whose decease, his widow, named Catharine Fromans
before her marriage, being a gentlewoman of very fine
behaviour and having good friends, was called to the Court
of Queen Elizabeth and made mother of the maids of
honour, not being a Catholic as her deceased husband, but
only well-minded. She then took this her daughter Anne
to the Court at the age of sixteen, where for four years she
gave herself wholly to the pleasures and delights of the
world, yet so that being of a high mind and aiming at
greater matches than her degree, she never was enthralled
in the love of any man amidst the occasion of such a Court
as that was. For Almighty God who intended to satisfy
her aspiring mind with no less than Himself, and to bring
her unto a higher estate than of any worldly nobility,
permitted not His future spouse to be defiled with earthly
love. But behold, against the time of a great marriage in

108 CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

the Court, when she supposed to have abundant pleasure
and solace, suddenly all is turned quite contrary, for so
great a cloud of affliction invadeth her mind and so deep a
melancholy accompanied with horrible, desperate tempta-
tions, that all the pleasures of the Court were turned now
into sorrows, her feasting into mourning, her tears poured
forth amain whenever she could get out of company. And
being once gotten alone, which was very hard to do in that
place, and lamenting according to her custom her great
misfortune that she could take comfort in nothing and
knew not what would help her ; it came suddenly to her
mind that she must leave the world and become a nun,
having heard some speech in her infancy of religious
houses and nuns in old time, as also had been taught her
Pater Noster, Ave Maria, Creed, and Jesus Psalter, all
which prayers worldly pleasures had not brought to
oblivion. She, finding this motion in her mind and not
knowing how to compass the same, being as yet no
Catholic, neither had notice of religious houses, notwith-
standing one day she disclosed it unto a person who put
her quite out of thinking upon religion. Thereupon her
mother desirous to help her, seeing her spend the night in
tears as she lay by her, would give her to read a book of
Catholic prayers, so that now affliction made her call to
mind her old prayers. But nothing availed to comfort her,
the Court was loathsome to her, all things disgustful, and
she knew not what ailed her. Her mother hereupon sends
her into the country to a married sister of hers to see if
that would help her. But all recreation made her worse
and worse, so that at length she thought by main violence
to get her pleasure again in the world ; therefore desires
her mother to send for her to the Court, which she did.
But our Lord now would have the mastery, and therefore
coming back to Court again, her afflictions are renewed, no
contentment can enter into her mind, insomuch that looking
out at window she thought a dog more happy than herself,
because it had not trouble of mind.

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 109

Almighty God forgot her not in this case, but one day
a gentleman that was a Catholic, though unknown, comino-
to the Court and seeing her so sad and melancholy, asked
what she wanted. Whereunto she answered : She knew
not what to do, nor what could help her, she was in such
affliction of mind. He answered that he would bring her
to one that would help her. She regarded not his words,
being overwhelmed with affliction, but some days after, he
coming there again she desired him for God's sake to
bring her to one as he had said the other day, who there-
upon brought her unto Father Garrett (Gerard) who
instructed her in Catholic religion and reconciled her.
Whereupon her mind was so quieted that she became
contented, but yet she could take no pleasure in the world,
therefore left the Court and lived as the said Father
appointed order for her. At length she discovered to him
how she was moved to undertake a religious state, and he
very much applauded her mind and animated her therein.
But then considering what Order to choose, she very much
affected the Clarisses Order, until one day she felt it
sensibly as it were said in her mind that she must go to
St Ursula's, for she had long before heard one speak of
such a cloister in Louvain. Whereupon Father Garrett
(Gerard) sought for means to help her over, but being
taken and clapped up in the Tower, he left order with
Father Garnet his Provincial to help her, which he did,
and sent her over with another, to wit. Sister Mary
Welch. So that the day twelvemonth after she was re-
conciled to the Church she was on the sea for religion,
and coming to Brussels they would fain have had them
both for St Benedict's, which was then a-beginning,
but their calling, they said, was to Louvain ; therefore
entered into St Ursula's and courageously there went
forward in religfion amidst all difficulties of the hard
fare.

So doth Almighty God prevail with His grace as to
make the strictness of hard poverty of more contentment

110 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

than all the delights of princes' courts, even in the age of
most flourishing youth.

But notwithstanding, according to nature, difficulty
sometimes happened therein, as once upon a Christmas
Day, having been much tired out with singing in the
Choir all the long Matins in the night, and the solemn
service in the morning, coming to dinner she expected that
at least on such a day they should have a little better diet
than ordinary, having fasted all the Advent with great
strictness. Seeing nothing then but a poor little piece of
boiled beef, about two fingers' breadth, she felt it hard to
undergo. But yet God's grace prevailed above this and
other things, so that she was professed and willingly
undertook this hardness for God's sake, upon the Holy
Cross Day, the 3rd of May 1599, together with Sister
Mary Welch and Sister Susan Laborne and now was one
of the second company that came hither from St Ursula's
as hath been declared at large.

Wherefore to go on with our history : in this year 16 10,
about Whitsuntide, one of the Dutch lay-sisters of St
Ursula's Monastery had so great a desire to come and live
here with the English, that hearing the Bishop was in
town, she made no more ado but went herself to him and
humbly besought him to give her leave to go and live at
St Monica's. He asked her whether she knew they would
be content to take her there, and those of her own cloister
to let her depart. She answered that if he pleased to give
her licence she doubted not but to get their goodwill here-
unto. Whereupon he gave her free licence that if she
could obtain the consent of both cloisters she might go.
With this grant of the Archbishop she found that those of
St Ursula's were content to let her depart having lay-sisters
enough besides, and our nuns of St Monica's wanting help
for their work were content to take her. And so upon the
17th of June 16 10, she was fetched hither by Catherine
Noe, who was very glad to have a sister to assist her in the
labours of the house ; her name was Frances Blase, whose

Ladv Makgakkt RAni:i.iFFE.

Daughter of Francis Radcliffe, first Karl of Dervveniwaler, wife of Sir Pliili]) Constable

of Everingham, Bart.

Purtrmt at Eccringhtim. liii l.iiid permisdoii of I.uril JItrries.

[Flier page 110.

CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 111

father lived in town and left us ^lo at his death for having
received his daughter among us.

This year, 1610, entered into the monastery upon the 4th
day of July two sisters, Mary and Helen Copley, nieces to
the old Mother, daughters of William Copley of Gatton, in the
county of Surrey, son and heir of the Lord Thomas Copley,
Baron of Welles, which said Thomas in his youth fell into
heresy, although he had been brought up a Catholic by the
old Lady Copley, his mother, daughter of the Lord Chief-
Justice of England, and continued a hot heretic in the time
of Queen Mary, when all were Catholics, yet afterwards by
reading of controversy, for he was a great scholar, and
finding it evidently proved how the Protestants did falsify
the Word of God in their translations, he was so moved
thereat through God's grace, as he turned again into the
right way even then when most part of the realm went into
error, to wit, in the time of Queen Elizabeth's reign. Then
did he become a most constant Catholic and suffered much
for the faith, going into voluntary banishment to enjoy
the freedom of his conscience. For by reason that the
Lord Chamberlain, the Queen's uncle, was his sore enemy,
he having refused to marry his sister and taken for wife
one of Sir John Luttrell's daughters, an heir of the blood
royal, who for her beauty liked him better, in respect of
this he knew well that becoming a Catholic the other would
have fit opportunity continually to molest him for his
conscience, therefore came over seas into France and these
Low Countries ; at which time the Lord Chamberlain
hastened unto his manor-house of Gatton, and confiscated
his goods, taking away, besides plate, so much armour as
they say would have furnished hundreds of men, and in the
house so fair a library of books that he pleasured therewith
the universities of England, insomuch as for some days
there were still waggons going and coming to carry away the
goods which he rifled. The said Thomas Copley hearing
all this, like another Job exercised the virtue of patience in
suffering for so good a cause. At length after some years

112 CHKONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

he died in those parts, leaving his second son, William, heir
of his land ; for the eldest son being so brave a gentleman
that the King of France had already made him Knight, he
died at nineteen years of age of a pleurisy at Paris in France.
William Copley then after his father's decease, coming into
England to enjoy his inheritage, being not twenty-one years
of age, and finding that to pass the Court of Wards he must
take the oath of supremacy, not having yet experience how-
to escape that danger as others do, determined rather than
to commit such an offence against Almighty God to venture
the loss of all his land for his lifetime, so that he might
enjoy freedom of his conscience. Wherefore behold in this
resolution this constant youth most loyal to God letteth
forth all his houses for small rents, taking fines in the place ;
so maketh a good sum of money and over seas he comes
with one trusty servant and goeth into Spain, where God
ordained that he got a pension in respect that his father's
worthiness had been well known to strangers. There also
he married with the daughter of Thomas Prideaux, an
Esquire of Devonshire, and of Helen Clement, sister unto
the old Mother, who all lived there in voluntary banishment
for the safety of their conscience. This daughter of theirs
named Magdalen Prideaux whom he married had in her
childhood been brought up for some time in the cloister of
St Ursula's under her aunt's government, as her mother
also had lived there before with her sister Margaret learn-
ing virtue, although both the mother and daughter had no
calling to religion. Which said Magdalen being her
parent's only daughter, had education to many rare
qualities, for she was a fine musician both in song and
instruments, had the Latin tongue perfect, also poetry, and
was skilful in the art of painting, a woman indeed wise,
and pious in godly matters. In the meantime the Queen
seizeth upon his living, and gave it away to a cousin-german
of his that lived in her Court, named Sir William Lane.

For the space of seventeen years the said William
Copley enjoyed not one penny of his estate, but having four

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 113

children of this his marriage, he maintained them only by
his pension, and at the coming of the Infanta with Albert
the Archduke of Austria to the Princes of these Low
Countries, he got his pension transferred into these quarters
for to be the nearer home. At which time his wife made a
voyage into England to see if she could by some composi-
tion get again his estate. She left her eldest daughter in
that space at St Ursula's with her aunt Prioress, to be
brought up, taking the second daughter with her. The
child stayed about two years in the monastery, from the
age of seven till nine, and there got a great desire to religion,
for Almighty God bestowed a calling on her in that tender
age, which He had not given either to her mother or
grandmother. After this notwithstanding, she was taken
forth against her will, for she would gladly have stayed
there still ; but her father said he would have her to see the
world, and when she came to years, if her desire to religion
continued, he would not hinder her, as indeed he did not.
Her mother, after three years' labour in the said business,
returned out of England without doing any good, for so
long as the Queen lived nothing was to be gotten. About
two years after her return the Queen died, and then they both
with all her children, went into England, seeing that by the
general pardon at the new King's coming, his fault of
fugacy was pardoned, and now the land was by the law his
own. Nevertheless so did his kind cousin stand against
him, and prevailed so much with the law, the other being a
Catholic, that he could by no means get into his own right
until he had compounded with the said cousin of his for
the living, and assured him ;^2000 before he would part
with it, and to pay this sum he was enforced to sell a manor,
that which alone had made him a ward. So, having
obtained his estate, he suffered notwithstanding the troubles
and afflictions incident to Catholics, and at this present
payeth the statute of ^20 a month. When therefore, his
daughters were now of years to undertake any state, the
eldest being eighteen, her mind to religion continued still,

H

114 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

for although through the vanities of the world she was
allured to leave her intention, yet the continued counsels
and advices of their virtuous parents helped her much, as
also the reading of good books made her at length fully
resolve to become religious, and her sister Helen hearing
her mother and sister to commend monastical life, deter-
mined also to come over to see the same and try if she liked
it. Being both of this mind they thought to have gone to
St Benedict's Order at Brussels where some of their kindred
were, rather than to go to St Ursula's which was in such
want and poverty ; but hereupon they understood how the
English were come forth thence, and had set up this
monastery of St Monica, wherefore they resolved to come
hither unto their old acquaintance.

But one thing must not be omitted, to wit, that coming
over, our Lord would have them make public confession
of their faith ; for lying at the inn in Southwark, expect-
ing to depart with a widow that went under the Spanish
Ambassador's charge, in the meantime there was much
ado in London, in searching of houses upon news that the
King of France was killed. Wherefore, the innkeeper's
wife, having one night disputed with the eldest of these
two sisters, and finding she was too hard for her in matters
of religion, confounding her even by the Bible, upon which
she still harped ; whether she had given notice to the
officers of them no one knoweth, but one night when they
were abed, there comes a justice of peace with many men,
and in they would come. They refusing to open the door,
being about midnight, they threatened to break it open.
Wherefore the two sisters not knowing what might happen,
took such Catholic books as they had into the bed with
them, as also the money for their voyage (and it was
wisely done), leaving only one vain book of Virgil's, that
was taken away and they saw it no more. So laying them-
selves still, they desired their old nurse, who had come out
of Spain for their sakes, and was now to come over with
them to open the door. Then came into the room many

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 115

men, and drew open the curtains. They lay still ; the
justice of peace sat him down by the bedside, and asked
of them of what religion they were, and whether they went
to church. The eldest answered. That they were well
known in Southwark to be recusants, for their father hath
one manor, and many houses there. Then he asked if
they would go to the church ? She answered. No. He
asked again, Why."^ She answered, Because she would
not be a dissembler, to be in her mind of one religion and
make a show of another. He hearing this, could not
tell what to say, but having demanded the cause of their
coming to London, finding nothing to make against her
but her constant resolution not to go to church, asked of
the younger sister if she was also of the same mind, who
answered. Yea. Then he willed them to stay in that inn
till they heard further from him, and their man, who lay in
another chamber, he took and sent to prison ; but in
respect of their father being well known there, he did not
send them to prison, and so departed. After this they
sent their mother word, who lived but fourteen miles off,
what had happened ; who came speedily up and speaking
with the justice got them freed. So that within a few days
they came away with the foresaid widow, and the good
mother had a new grief at the parting with her children ;
for having no more daughters but them, according to
nature she felt it most heavy to part from both. But for
the love of God and their greater good, she overcame her-
self, and went with them even to the Thames side, though
before she wished them to depart without her knowledge,
for she could not find in her heart to take leave of them,
yet now she saw them take boat with heavy heart. Their
man was still detained in prison, until that by means of the
Dutch Ambassador they got him released, being a stranger
born, of the Dutch nation, who came after and overtook
them here at Louvain.

But they, after this brunt, had a prosperous journey
and were kindly received, first at St Omer's by Dr

116 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

Redmond (Redman), their cousin, a Canon there of that
church, and great friend of this house, as also at Brussels
by Dr Clement, their cousin, who came with them himself
to Louvain, and at their arrival the eldest sister knew and
remembered her old acquaintance ; so they were received
into the monastery with much joy, especially of the old
Mother, their great-aunt, who felt them though she could
not see them.

This year some English persons of worth came over to
these parts : as Mrs Suthcoat (Southcote), Sister Mary
Welch's uncle, and Mrs Brooksbie, a young widow, our
Reverend Mother's niece, daughter to Sir William Wise-
man, her brother, both being come here to Louvain to see
their friends.

We now removed from our forementioned little choir,
and made the next place unto the gallery to serve both for
a choir and church, taking all that room which is over our
refectory for it, so that now our choir was of some reason-
able greatness, and the little chapel served besides for
some priest or other to say Mass during the service when
they came. Moreover, we brought a great bell, for before
we had only that which we now ring to the refectory
withal (costing about ^lo), so that upon the Dedication
of our Saviour, the 9th of November, we sang the first Mass
in this our little church, and the Abbot who had sold us
the house would needs sing this himself. But the accom-
modating of the place to make it a convenient choir with
lectionaries and the altar, as also removing of doors, and
breaking of walls for it, did cost us about ^80 in all, and
God of His goodness assisted us still with means.

Upon the day of our Blessed Lady's Presentation in
November the same year (1610), entered into our
monastery Jane Hatton, daughter of Ralph Hatton, dwell-
ing in Buckinghamshire ; her mother was a Justice of
Peace's daughter. Which couple having ten children, this
was the youngest, and both her parents and all their
children being Protestants, it pleased the Divine goodness

CHKONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 117

to call the youngest of all unto Him ; being brought up so
ignorantly that she knew not of our Lord's Passion, till
one day hearing an Irish beggar-woman say something
thereof and showing a picture of Christ which she carried
about her, this said Jane would fain have bought the image
of the woman for she felt her heart in love with Him that
had suffered for her, but the poor woman would not part
with it by any means.

After this, hearing one of their servants speak in praise
of our Blessed Lady, she asked who that woman was, both
a Virgin and a Mother, and understanding that she was
the Mother of Christ, took thereupon a devotion to her.
After this although many years passed before she became
a Catholic, yet she would do all her work in the honour of
Him that died for her, and also desired our Blessed Lady
with all her heart that she would be her Mother. For she
never knew her own mother, by reason that she died when
this her youngest child was at nurse ; and so she hoped
that she should one day come to be our Lady's child in-
deed, but as yet knew not of the Catholic religion, more
than that sometimes she heard the parson and her father
talk together of recusants, how they lost their goods
because they would not go to church. Whereupon she
thought surely they had some great reason for it, or else
they would not lose so much, and in the end determined
herself to become a Catholic, if she could get leave from
her father, but he did still urge her to marry and set her
brothers and sisters to persuade her, as desiring to see her
bestowed in his lifetime. But she had no mind at all
thereto, and would answer them that she hoped to be
provided for as well as they, and that God would bestow
her better than they, and no other answer could they get
of her. Her father at length began to fear she would be a
recusant, and set Mr Parson on her, as also himself fell a-
weeping, being an aged man of almost a hundred years
old. But our Lord assisted her, so that all their persua-
sions could not divert her mind, for she was quite out of

118 CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

love with their religion, and could not tell what to do with
herself. But that Sovereign Goodness who presideth
everywhere, and ordaineth fit means for those to come to
Him whom He hath chosen, disposed matters so that one
day a young gentlewoman, who after was our Sister Mary
Scidmoor (Scudamore), coming to her father's house upon
some occasion, and seeing her pensive and sad, suspected
it was about reliction. Wherefore she would have crotten
her away from her father to come and keep Christmas at
a house where she knew she could help her to be reconciled,
but he fearing she would make his daughter a papist,
would by no means let her depart.

Notwithstanding, a while after he let her go to another
place which was but one mile off from this her dearest
friend, and so being come there she got means to have
access to the forenamed young gentlewoman, who examined
her why she was so sad. She answered, because she knew
not how to serve God. Hereupon the other began to teach
her Ave Maria and also the Ten Commandments, and how
to examine her conscience, and told her if she would be a
Catholic she must confess all her sins unto a priest. She
was content to do so, desiring her to teach her how,
which the other did, and also brought her unto a priest,
who reconciled her to the Catholic Church. But after this,
having no quiet with her father about going to church, at
length he died, and then she was her own woman, and had
her portion in hands. Whereupon knowing that her fore-
named friend was come over to be religious, desiring much
to imitate and follow her steps, she got measures to come
over with Mrs Brooksby, our Mother's niece, as her waiting
gentlewoman, and so was received into our monastery.

This year also about Christmas died the old gentle-
woman that lived in this house, and thereupon we had all
the rooms wholly to ourselves, as also the outhouses which
she had let out to two women, which hire was then void ;
and so they departed and we enjoyed the house freely, and
accommodated it after another manner, as was more

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 119

convenient for us. Upon St John Evangelist's day in
Christmas time, was professed Catharine Noe, lay-sister,
of whom we have before made mention.

This same year the two Copleys' eldest brother came
over to pass his course of Philosophy in this town, and
boarded with our fathers, and with him was companion at
school another young gentleman named Mr Baker, who
afterwards going into Spain intended to be a priest, but
died first, and at his death left to our monastery ^loo for
his former acquaintance' sake. But the foresaid Thomas
saw his sisters clothed this year upon the 23rd of January,
and sometime after their profession himself entered into
the Society of Jesus, leaving his inheritance unto his
second brother William, taking our Lord for his part and
portion. About this time a very rich man of London
named Mr Barram ( ? Barham) coming over to these parts
and desiring to do some good deeds before his death,
having lived some time a schismatic. Almighty God moved
him to help our cloister, and he gave us at once unexpected
;^ioo, which was a good alms, and assisted us very well in
these our beginnings.

161 1. This year, upon St Ann's day came from St
Ursula's one nun more, to wit, Sister Mary Best, who
having long desired to be here, had now gotten of Mr
Porrege, a kinsman of hers in England, ^100 for to help
her to come unto this cloister, and thereupon was admitted
by our convent with leave and licence of the Archbishop ;
she was elder in religion than any here, and upon St Ann's
Feast, being her profession day, she came to her great
joy, as also an English lay-sister named Margaret Offspring
came some two or three days after. For in respect that
there was but one lay-sister there of our nation, we were
content to have her here to help us in the household work.
They both vowed obedience to our Reverend Mother at
their coming, as the manner is, being freed by the Bishop
from their obedience in St Ursula's Monastery. So now
there remained of our English nuns only four, to wit, Sister

120 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

Frances Felton, Sister Eleanor Garnett, Sister Ann Rook-
wood, and Sister Ann Clitherow, daughter to Mrs
Clitherow the martyr that was pressed to death in Queen
Elizabeth's reign at York ; of which four none ever came
hither, but died all there very blessedly, leaving behind
them in that cloister much edification of virtue and also
note of sanctity.

1611. Upon St Lawrence's day entered our monastery
a niece of Sister Barbara Wilford's, named Margaret
Throckmorton, daughter unto John Throckmorton of
Coughton, Warwickshire, Esquire, and a famous Catholic,
of great kindred and fair estate, keeping house like a
nobleman, insomuch that when any stirs were in the realm
he was presently clapped up in prison, by reason that being
so mighty in the shire it was feared he might raise a com-
motion, and therefore was kept down with paying the
statute and other molestations, and also confined to his
house and five miles about. His son died before he came
to inherit, being a virtuous and good Catholic, as also his
wife, daughter to Mr Wilford of Essex, who after the death
of her husband continued a widow, doing many good deeds
in inducing of Protestants to be reconciled, receiving and
relieving of priests, bringing up her children in the fear of
God, of which this daughter being the eldest, our Lord
took such means to choose her for Himself, as by permitting
her to be more ensnared in the world than the rest, made
her more heroically to leave it. For coming to live in
London with my Lady Roper who was her aunt, and re-
maining there as companion to her cousin Ann Roper ;
Sir William Roper and his wife came into these parts that
he might escape taking the oath and also be reconciled,
for he had gone to church, and this his niece coming to
these parts was moved by God to enter into religion. But
being beset with manifold difficulties to hinder her, she
durst not disclose her mind to her friends, but at length,
coming to Louvain with my Lady Roper to see her aunt
Wilford that was a religious here, she yet disclosed not

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 121

her intention, and went with her company to Sichem.
Being there with our Lady she determined with herself
to put her design into execution, and departed from them
saying she would come for awhile to stay at Louvain with
her aunt, while they went to France, neither would she have
any one to come with her hither, as intending to shake off
all hindrances, but came herself alone in the waggon, and
was admitted into the cloister treading the world valiantly
under foot, and all enticing allurements. Whereof she
wanted not store, for leaving many great matches which
attended only her consent, she wisely and piously chose
for Spouse Him who is Speciosus forma prce filiis hominum.
Beautiful of form above the sons of men. Thus doth
Almighty God allure unto Himself even those whom the
world fawneth most upon, to be glorified in His chosen
servants and dearest spouses.

This year also upon the 22nd of October, being the
Feast of our Holy Father St Augustine's Translation,
came hither our Rev. Father Stephen Barnes to be Con-
fessarius. Priest and Bachelor of Divinity, in respect that
Father Fenn, our forementioned Father, through old age
was not able to perform the place ; who notwithstanding
remained here with us all his lifetime, our faithful friend
and good benefactor, as shall be declared more hereafter.
We builded this year our narrow dormitory which standeth
raised in the little court, making all the place that looketh
into the orchard into cells, which before was a pleasant
long gallery, because, our company increasing we wanted
lodging.

In the year 16 12 upon the 8th of May, being the Feast
of St Michael's Apparition, were professed the old Mother's
nieces, Mary and Helen Copley, having passed some few
months above their year of noviceship, because their cousin,
Dr Clement, would needs have them stay until their cousin
Redmund (Redman) might also come from St Omer's to
their profession. Which delay grieved the good old
Mother, for she feared lest she might die before their

122 CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

profession, but our Lord prolonged her life to give her her
heart's desire before her happy departure hence. Where-
fore after the Feast of their profession was past and her
nephew Redmund (Redman) departed, she desired of our
Reverend Mother upon the Thursday sennight after her
nieces' profession that they might have at night recreation
in the refectory for the last of the Feast, which was
willingly granted her. At which time, she desired of our
Superior sitting at table, that she would give her leave
now to sing like a swan before her death, which she freely
gave her licence to do. And then the worthy old Mother,
from the exceeding joy and jubilation of her heart, sang a
devout song of Jesus, which made one of the elders to
weep that sat near her, and she also said that now she left
unto us these her two pledges in her place, as also had
before said to one of her nieces that she felt exceeding joy
to think that when she was above enjoying the sight of the
Blessed Trinity, she should leave them here on earth to
praise our Lord God. She asked them after their pro-
fession whether they were well contented, and they answered
they were. Especially one of them told her that she
enjoyed great peace of mind, which made the worthy old
Mother exceeding glad. So that now Almighty God
having given her this last comfort after her faithful service,
would no longer detain her in this life, but bring her to a
better ; wherefore upon the very next Friday, being in the
choir with the rest at a Dirge, she was taken extreme sick,
yet she made a hard shift to stay out the Dirge, showing
her love to the Divine Service even to the last, after which
it was time to have her in bed, for she had a sore ague
with a pleurisy, which although she was let blood, yet it
brought her unto a blessed end.

Of whose memorable life and virtues we omit to speak
more here, because it is written at large in a book by itself.
After this, her nephew, Dr Clement, was sent for hither again
from Brussels, who came to her burial, which was performed
with due solemnity, and a Father of the Society of Jesus, a

CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 123

worthy preacher, made her funeral sermon, showing therein
her excellent virtues, to the glory of God and edification
of all.

This year also on the 30th of September, St Jerome's
day, was professed Sister Monica Hatton, at the age of
thirty-two years. Upon the 17th of November one of our
first sisters followed the old Mother, to wit, Sister Catharine
Allen, who died with great pain of the stone, which she
had been many years troubled with, being a good and
virtuous religious, and imitated the example of her worthy
mother, who lost all her goods and living in England for
her conscience. Being a widow and coming into such
trouble for her brother's sake, who after was Cardinal, that
all she had was confiscated, there was also commandment
given none should harbour or relieve her, insomuch that
she was forced to come over this side the seas with her
children, and suffered for a while great want and penury.
But the goodness of God, which setteth a limit unto the
tribulations of the just, provided so well for her that the
Catholic King of Spain having notice of her losses for the
faith, allowed her a good pension whereby she lived very
well, and all the children were provided for by their uncle
the Cardinal ; the two eldest daughters becoming religious
in St Ursula's Monastery, and the youngest was well
married to Mr Worthington. Her son dying in these
parts, she herself lived to her death a most godly and
virtuous life, communicating every Thursday, besides
Sundays and holy days, and fasting every Wednesday,
excepting when St Elizabeth's day fell thereon, whose
name she had ; as also she rose daily at 4 in the morning,
and from 5 till 9 continued in the church at her prayers,
and upon holy days passed almost all the time in her devo-
tions. She afflicted her body with sharp hair-cloth and
other penances, and would give some alms to all that asked
it of her. Wherefore when she went to church the beggars
attended about her, but the boys or children she would not
give alms unto until they had heard Mass in her sight, which

124 CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

they to get money were contented to do. She also spun
hard upon workdays, and kept silence at her work, saying
some prayers, and all the linen which she made of her
spinning she distributed either unto religious or needy
persons, and at length by a painful sickness she happily
rested in our Lord. She lies buried in our monastery,
according to her desire, among the nuns.

[Face page 125.

PREFACE TO CHAPTER THE FOURTH

A group of Catholic families under the Stuarts. CHffords,
Thimelbys, and Astons. Sir Thomas Lucy ("Justice Shallow'')
and his descendants. William Blundell, " the Cavalier." The Lords
Windsor of Bradenham. The Rev. John Bolt. Queen Elizabeth's
Chapel. Thomas, Earl of Southampton, and his sisters. The families
of Pounde and Brittan.

The pleasing memories associated with the CHffords of
Brackenbury, Thimelbys of Irnham, and Astons of Tixall,
which three families were allied by marriagre, afford a
measure of relief to the saddening though heroic annals of
so many devoted Catholic houses in the cruel times of
Protestant oppression.

It must have been about the year 1612, that Mrs
Elizabeth Clifford, a self-exiled English lady, resident at
St Omer's, returning from a visit to the sanctuary of our
Lady of Sichem, came to Louvain in Holy Week, and
stayed in the town for a fortnight. Mrs Clifford is
described in the Louvain Records as the daughter of John
Thimelby, Esquire, of Irnham in Lincolnshire, and widow
of Henry Clifford of Brackenbury, in the same county, who
had died on a journey to Spain, undertaken in company
with his relative, George Clifford, third Earl of Cumberland.
The devout lady, not liking to lodge at an inn, got leave
to stay in the guest-house attached to the English
convent. At midnight she heard the bell calling the nuns
from their beds to choir. Forthwith an irresistible at-
traction to the cloister took possession of her, and she died
a nun at St Monica's in 1642. With Elizabeth Clifford's

126 CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

vocation begins the connection of our community with the
noble houses of Clifford and Aston, and with the ancient
family of Thimelby. To avoid confusion in the sequel I
must give their family histories in brief, and have first to
trace the descent of the Brackenbury Cliffords, whom we
find in the Low Countries in the seventeenth century,
from the main stock of that illustrious family.

In the times immediately following the Norman
Conquest, the family of Fitzponts, sprung from the Counts
of Eu, built themselves in Herefordshire a castle on the
Welsh marches, which, possibly from its proximity to a
cliff and a ford, was known as Castle Clifford. Robert, the
fifth Lord of Castle Clifford, surnamed " de Appleby," was
in 1299 appointed Captain-General and King's lieutenant
in the northern counties, and Sheriff of Westmoreland.
Thither the family transferred its residence from Hereford-
shire, so that some writers style them Cliffords of West-
moreland from this time forward ; Shakespeare, who has
made us familiar with them at this part of their history,
calls them Cliffords of Cumberland. A son of Robert de
Appleby was Canon of Exeter in 1321, and in Bishop
Grandisson's Register, Peter, Reginald, and Walter de
Clifford appear among the clergy of his diocese. Vocations
to the priesthood and the cloister have been numerous in
the family ; Richard Clifford, Bishop of London, was
among the thirty prelates whom the Council of Constance
added to the College of Cardinals for the election of a
Pope to end the Western Schism, was the first to propose
Cardinal Colonna, elected as Martin V., and was the
officiating Bishop in whose presence Henry V. laid the
first stone of Syon Monastery. The late Bishop Clifford
of Clifton was but one of a long line of Cliffords of
Ugbrooke, who consecrated themselves to God in the
ecclesiastical state.

John, the seventh from Robert de Appleby, had a
younger brother, Sir Lewis, the ancestor of the Barons of
Ugbrooke. Seduced for a time by the Lollards, he soon

CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 127

returned to the obedience of the faith. His confession
and repentance, expressed in his last will, are exquisitely
touching. This John, Lord Clifford, by his wife, Elizabeth
Percy, Hotspur's daughter, had several children. His
eldest son and successor, Thomas, is Shakespeare's " Proud
northern lord, Clifford of Cumberland " slain at the battle
of St Alban's in 1455, to whom succeeded his fierce and
warlike son, John, the most dreaded foe to the House of
York. On the eve of the battle of Towton, at Dittingdale,
between Towton and Scarthingwell, as Clifford had
loosened his gorget, an arrow pierced his throat, and he
immediately expired, on 29th March 1461.

His third son. Sir Thomas, an infant at the date of his
father's death, married Ellen, daughter of John Swarby
of Brackenbury in Lincolnshire. Thomas Clifford of
Brackenbury, presumably their son, w^ho died in 1574, was
the father of Henry of Brackenbury, whose second wife
was our Sister Elizabeth Clifford, left a widow in 1598
when she was thirty-three years of age. Her father's
name is given in our MS. as John, in others as Richard,
Thimelby or Thimbleby of Irnham in Lincolnshire. She
had at least seven children by her marriage with Henry
Clifford. Five died young ; of the two who survived
their mother, the younger, Mr Henry Clifford of Antwerp,
often occurs in our annals as " our good friend Mr Clifford."
Concerning Sister Elizabeth's eldest son, William, a priest
of the secular clergy, I must here say a few words.

Educated at Douay, he succeeded in establishing on a
firm basis the English College at Lisbon, and was in
consequence entrusted by the Bishop of Chalcedon with
the government of Tournay College, founded for the
English clergy by Cardinal Richelieu at Paris. Among
his scholars were Bishop Leyburn, and Dr Gage, President
of Douay. His love of prayer and retirement made him
solicit the chaplaincy of the Hospital of Incurables at
Paris. Here he wrote his two manuals of piety : The
Little Manual of the Poor Mans Devotion, of which the

128 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

nuns at St Augustine's possess a copy, and The Christian
Rtcles, of which there is a copy in the Hbrary at
Ugbrooke. Abbot Montague, brother to the Earl of
Manchester, was his intimate friend. In a biography
prefixed to the Mamial, I read : " When this humble
priest saluted the Abbot at his first entrance with these
words : My Lord you are come to help me to die ; the
Abbot replied : No, Mr Clifford, I have come to learn of
you how to live. Abbot Montague frequently visited him
in his last sickness, and when he was near his end, he
urged him, by many obliging expressions to signify what
he should do for him. The holy man for some time
remained silent. But the good Abbot pressing again the
same question, Mr Clifford answered him in these words :
My Lord, the only thing I desire of your Lordship is that
you will build a hive for St Peters Bees ; meaning thereby
a house for the English clergy. The Abbot promised to
comply with his request." This holy priest died in the
odour of sanctity at Paris in 1670.

As our Chronicle mentions George, Earl of Cumberland,
as a kinsman of Henry ClifTord of Brackenbury, I must add
a word to explain their relationship. John, Lord ClifTord,
slain the day before the battle of Towton, was attainted in
the same year. His eldest son, Henry, to save his life
from Yorkist vengeance, was secretly conveyed away and
entrusted to some faithful Cumbrian shepherds. Till the
reversal of the attainder at the accession of Henry VH.
he lived with these lowly friends ; hence his surname of the
" Shepherd lord." Twenty-five years later he emerged from
the Cumberland Fells, almost illiterate, but of vigorous
intellect and great natural gifts. His descendant. Lady
Anne Clifford, calls him "a plain man, who lived for the
most part a country life, and came seldom either to Court
or London, except when called to Parliament where he
behaved himself like a wise and good English nobleman."
Much of his time in after-life was given to study under the
tuition of the Austin Canons of Bolton. But in his sixtieth

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 129

year he armed his followers against the Scots and held high
command in the English army at Flodden, where, as the
old poem has it :

" From Penigent to Pendle Hill
From Linton to Long Aldingham,
And all that Craven coasts did till.
They with the lusty Clifford came ;
All Stancliffe hundred went with him,
With striplings strong from Wharledale
And all that Hanton hills did climb . . .
All such as Horton fells had fed
On Clifford's banner did attend."

His son, Henry, was the first of that line of Earls of
Cumberland, of whom George, referred to in our Chronicles,
was the third and the most distinguished. With the
exception of the first who in his will commends himself" to
Blessed Marie," and orders Masses to be said for him,
they seem to have been Protestants ; the fifth and last
Earl of Cumberland died in 1643. In Whitaker's History
of Craven is a beautiful engraving of the portraits of Earl
George and his family, from a painting in Skipton Castle.
The historian was present when the family tomb was
opened in 1803, ^.nd remarks that "the face was so entire,
only turned to copper-colour, as closely to resemble his
portraits." In the biography of the Rev. William
Clifford, above quoted, I read that " He might justly have
assumed the title of Lord Clifford " (after the death of the
last Earl of Cumberland), "but so great was his humility,
that nothing displeased him more than to hear this men-
tioned."

The Cliffords of Brackenbury constantly figure in the
Louvain annals as among the noblest and most munificent
benefactors of our Canonesses, to whom both the brothers
at death left large legacies. I find also large gifts from
the widow of Mr Henry Clifford of Antwerp, but cannot
find her name nor trace this branch of the family further.

At Irnham in the county of Lincoln, " Thimbleby that

I

130 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

now is, hath a fair place," writes old Leland. Out of the
five sisters of St Monica's, who by descent or marriage
belong to the family of Thimelby, or Thimbleby, of Irnham,
two have been already noticed : to wit. Sister Elizabeth
Clifford, and Sister Gertrude Thimelby. The other three
were: Sister Winifred Thimelby, "the most loved of all
the Mothers," as our records say, who was the third
Prioress of St Monica's ; her sister Frances, and their
niece Sister Catherine Aston, daughter of the Honourable
Herbert Aston and of Catherine Thimelby. The name
of this dear old Catholic Lincolnshire family became
extinct in 1720. Its later history has been briefly sketched
by Father Morris, S.J., in his preface to " Two Ancient
Treatises on Purgatory," in the Quarterly Series ; from
our MSS. I have ventured to supplement his historical
notes.

Pelham, in the same county of Lincoln, was the ancient
seat of the Thimelbys. Irnham, formerly Gerneham, had
at the Conquest been occupied by the Paynells, till in King
John's reign, a fair daughter of the house of Paynell
became the bride of Sir Geoffrey Lutterell, and brought
with her as her dowry the Lordship of Irnham. The home
of the Lutterells it remained till near the close of the
fifteenth century — I cannot find the exact date — when
Richard Thimelby of Pelham took to wife the heiress of
Sir Andrew Lutterell, from which time forward the
Thimelbys of Pelham became Thimelbys of Irnham — that
is to say, for the next two centuries and a quarter.

At this point there is a discrepancy between Father
Morris's authorities and the Louvain records. Both are
agreed on Richard Thimelby of Pelham marrying the
Lutterell heiress, and both state that another Richard
Thimelby wedded Mary Brooksby, a niece of the celebrated
Anne Vaux. Father Morris makes this latter the son of
the elder Richard, which would interpose a period of at
least a century and a quarter from the marriage of the
father to the death of his son and heir. Our records make

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 131

the younger Richard the son, not of Richard, but of John
Thimelby, who was presumably the son of the elder
Richard. Concerning this John of Irnham, from whom
the Louvain story starts, we learn from our MS. some
interesting details. The family had for a brief time yielded
to the fury of the Elizabethan persecution, and had become
what in those days was known as a "schismatic" family.
But John Thimelby of Irnham "became a Catholic about
1580, and was most constant after his conversion, living
fifty years in persecution and being almost one hundred
years at his death." He had two children, a son and a
daughter. The latter was our Sister Elizabeth, the widow
of Henry Clifford of Brackenbury. The son, Richard,
who died in 1624, married Mary, daughter of Edward
Brooksby and of Eleanor, daughter of Lord Vaux of
Harrowden, so that through Sister Elizabeth Clifford our
community came to be connected with the heroic Anne
Vaux, Mrs Brooksby's sister, who had so large a share in
the sufferings of the martyred Father Garnett. Richard
Thimelby and Mary Brooksby had fourteen children.
Thenceforward the family history is singularly pleasing,
as, despite the storms of persecution they lived at their
peaceful home in exceptional tranquillity, and their family
correspondence breathes a spirit of the most amiable piety
united to the pursuit of letters. The eldest son of Richard
was Sir John Thimelby, Knt., who married a daughter
of the Viscount of Rock-Savage. Their son, John, married
the daughter of Lord Petre, and was the last of his name,
dying in 1720. William and Henry, Sir John's brothers,
entered the English College in Rome, but the latter at
least did not take Holy Orders, and eventually married
Gertrude Aston, who died a nun of St Monica in 166S.
Richard Thimelby, S.J., another brother of Sir John, the
author of a beautiful work on Purgatory edited by Father
Morris, was Superior of the Jesuits in Lincolnshire, his
native county, and afterwards Rector of St Omer's, where
he died in 1680. His brother, Robert, died a student in

132 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

the same college. Another brother, Edward, Provost of
St Gery in Cambray, departed this life in 1690. Of their
sisters, Elizabeth married Richard Conquest, to whose
family Irnham passed in 1720; Mary became the wife of
Sir Richard Persall, Knt.; Anne and Helen died unmarried,
Dorothy in infancy ; Winifred and Frances were nuns at
Louvain ; and Catherine married Herbert Aston, as already
said. Several of the family were noted for their poetic
talent and their works are to be found in the volume of
Tixall Poetry, published by A. Clifford. Of other relations,
we find the names of Charles, slain at Worcester ; of Robert
and Nicholas, officers in the Royal army killed during the
Civil War ; and of Gabriel Thimelby who died in prison
for the faith. From Father Bridgewater's work on the
English persecution we learn the following, which I
transcribe from the translation in Foley's Records. It
relates to the city of Lincoln in 1581. "A lady of noble
birth, and young, having first obtained permission, entered
the prison to visit her husband, who was incarcerated
there for cause of religion. Being known to the gaoler, and
thus caught in his net laid for her, he ordered her also to
be detained a prisoner. Mrs Thimelby, either from the
shock caused by this inhumanity and perfidy, or else from
the foul air of the place, was seized with severe sickness,
aud brought into extreme danger of life, and when she
appeared hourly about to expire, Mr Thimelby, over-
whelmed with grief, earnestly implored that she might be
removed outside the prison, but his request was refused."
This was probably the Gabriel Thimelby mentioned by
Challoner. Mr Richard Thimelby is still annually com-
memorated in the suffrages of the Newton Abbot
community. Omitting what we shall hereafter find in our
Chronicle I may here insert part of a letter from Prioress
Thimelby written on the occasion of the clothing of her
sister-in-law. '' For our dearest sister, though her eyes'
deluge be not yet wholly ceased, yet who can repine at so
happy a flood, which has raised her to the contemplation

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 133

of heaven, where such pearls as her tears contribute with
other jewels to the riches of that ocean of delio-ht ! . . .
But enough of this sad subject. Our dear sister hath now
changed mourning into white attire. Oh ! had you seen
the solemnity, your heart would not have contained all joy,
but shed some at your eyes ; no less than heaven can dim
the splendour of this glorious day. All things were so
completely acted that my brother Ned and I were not a
little goodly." This "brother Ned" was Edward, the
Provost of Cambray.

A word on the after-history of Irnham. Mary, grand-
daughter of Sir John Thimelby, married Thomas Giffard
of Chillington, and being without children settled the
estate on her kinsman, Benedict Conquest; of Houghton
Conquest in Bedfordshire ; Richard Conquest having
married Elizabeth Thimelby, sister to the Prioress of
Louvain, two generations earlier. Benedict Conquest of
Irnham, who died in 1753, left an only daughter, Mary.
At the death of her brother, also named Benedict, she
became the heiress of Irnham and was married to Lord
Arundell of Wardour. Two daughters were the issue of
this marriage ; Mary, wedded to her cousin, Lord Arundell,
and Eleanor who became Lady Clifford of Chudleigh, and
to whom Irnham belonged in 181 7. In the Ugbrooke
library is a handsomely bound eighteenth century prayer-
book, in which are written the words, " Brought from
Irnham." Through the two alliances last recorded it has
come to pass that the descent of this ancient Catholic
family is continued in the Barons of Ugbrooke.

Strange as it may seem that Shakespeare's Justice
Shallow should be the ancestor of an illustrious Catholic
family and of more than one of our Louvain nuns, the fact
is certain. The youthful poet's poaching exploit in Charle-
cote Park, and his flight to London to escape prosecution,
was not his only motive for holding up Sir Thomas Lucy
as the addle-pated country justice, so given to boasting
that Jack Falstaff found his "every third word a lie," to

134 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

everlasting laughter. Shakespeare's sympathies were with
the persecuted Catholic recusants of whom his father had
been one. Haifa century before his birth, Sisters Isabella
and Joan Shakespeare were Prioress and Sub- Prioress of
Wroxhall. He was also connected with the ancient
Catholic family of the Ardens, whose seats were at
Wilmcote and Park Hall, and Thomas Arden was
Shakespeare's great-grandfather.

Now Sir Thomas Lucy was not only a fierce and bitter
Protestant, but had acted a savage and merciless part in
the judicial murder, if not martyrdom, of Edward Arden,
one of the noblest victims of the Earl of Leicester's vindic-
tive hatred of Catholics. During the proceedings in the
Arden affair the Crown Commissioners held their sittings
at Charlecote. Edward Arden, whose wife was a Throck-
morton, and nearly related to the Prioress of Louvain, was
executed in 1584. However, the Shakespearian portrait of
Sir Thomas, whom the dramatist takes care we should
identify by *'the three luces in his coat" of arms, is but a
caricature of the haughty and cruel but able knight, to
whom the building of Charlecote is due. In this, the heart
of Shakespeare's country, comparatively little is changed.
The Lucys are still lords of the manor of Hampton Lucy ;
Charlecote and Clopton, the latter of which sent Sisters
Barbara, Lidwine, and Catharine Clopton, to St Monica's,
still stand as in days of old ; the Warwickshire country-
people still name the flowers of their fields by the old
names of " love-in-idleness " and suchlike, as they did in
Shakespeare's time. The Lucys of Charlecote, as far as I
know, have never returned to the ancient faith and are still
Protestants. But some of the family were Catholics a
couple of centuries ago. In the annals of the Benedictine
nuns of Ghent, now at Oulton, the sixth Abbess, who is
commended as "vigorous and managing," and who died
in 1703, appears as "Dame Magdalen Lucy, daughter of
Edward Lucy, Esq., of Warwickshire, of an old Catholic
family," and another Dame Magdalen Lucy was the tenth

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 135

Abbess of the Benedictines of Ghent. In the aees of
faith the Lucys were distinguished as much for piety as
for valour, and the foundation of the Trinitarian Monastery
of Thelesford was owing to their pious munificence.

To Sir Edward Aston of Tixall Hall in Staffordshire,
Sir Thomas Lucy, Shakespeare's enemy, gave in marriage
his only daughter, Anne, who thus became the ancestress
of the Astons and Cliffords of Tixall, and among whose
descendants we number Sister Gertrude Thimelby (widow
of Henry Thimelby of Irnham in Lincolnshire), daughter
to the first Lord Aston ; her niece, Sister Catharine Aston,
both professed at St Monica's, and not a few others who
consecrated themselves to God in religion. Aston and
Tixall are names that breathe cherished Catholic memories.*
In Domesday Book, Earl Roger de Montgomery, who
afterwards forsook the world for the cloister, and died a
Benedictine monk at Shrewsbury, appears as Lord of
Tixall. Tixall, however, was not the original seat of the
Astons. In the reign of Henry HI., we find Ralph de
Aston, or Eston, seated at Great Haywood, which is a
little over a mile from Colwich Priory. But when in the
nineteenth century. Mass was to be said no more at Tixall
Hall, the chapel was transferred, stone by stone, and
rebuilt at Great Haywood, the old home of the family. A
malthouse in the village, where, in 1806, a dinner was given
to 700 people to honour the birth of Thomas Aston, son
and heir to Sir William Clifford of Tixall, holds all that
is left of the ancient mansion of the proud house of Aston.
Sir Edward Aston, in 1555, transferred his residence
from Haywood to Tixall Hall, which he had built with the
magnificence that may still be seen. It was his grandson,
who died in 1598, that married Sir Thomas Lucy's
daughter. Walter, their son, knighted at the coronation
of James I., was in 1619 sent as ambassador to Spain for
the affair of the expected Spanish marriage. Born and
bred a Protestant, he embraced at Madrid the Catholic
* At Tixall Queen Mary of Scotland passed a few days of her captivity.

136 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

faith, from which his descendents have never swerved, and
thus from the old Protestant knight, Sir Thomas Lucy, a
long line of loyal Catholics is descended of whom Sir
George Clifford, Bart., is the actual representative. Sir
Walter's faith did not hinder his advancement ; in 1627 he
was created Baron Aston of Forfar, and in 1635 was again
ambassador to Spain. His wife, Gertrude Sadler, was the
granddaughter of Sir Ralph Sadler, and his children
married into the Catholic families of Persall, Thimelby,
Fowler, and Weston. Under the Astons, Tixall was the
refuge of hunted priests, and when James, fifth Lord Aston
died, his daughter, Barbara, brought Tixall Hall to her
husband, Thomas, the fourth son of Hugh, Lord Clifford
of Chudleigh. The Honourable Mrs Barbara Clifford died
in 1798, and to her son Arthur we are indebted for charm-
ing details of the life of our Sister Gertrude Thimelby,
known as " Gatt " in the family circle. Of her numerous
poetical writings I give the following as a sample. It is
addressed to " Sir William and my lady Persall upon the
death of their little Frank."

" Happy parents, mourn no more,
You this jewel but restore :
Nor yet question Heaven's will
Why he was not lent you still.
As you merited that grace
So his innocence the place
We all ambition ; nor could you
Covet yours, to bar his due.
Say, in him we know did meet
All was good and all was sweet,
Does this aggravate your Cross ?
Your gain is greater than your loss.
For alas ! what did he here ?
Please your eye, delight your ear ; . . .
Yet hence your comfort most will rise
God loves the child that quickly dies."

Some six of Sister Gertrude's letters were kept at
Tixall when Arthur Clifford wrote his history.

CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 137

Of her brother, the second Lord Aston, we have a
lifelike picture in the letters of his grandson. Sir Edward
Southcote, given in Father Morris's Troubles. During the
turmoil of the Civil War the stalwart baron distinguished
himself by his heroism in the royal cause, for which his
only reward was in fines and persecution, till as he writes,
he was "a hundred thousand pounds the worse" for his
own and his father's loyalty. In his magnificent way of
living, he certainly showed some eccentricity, and we
wonder what Sister Gertrude thought of such details as
these : " My Lord's table was daily served with twenty
dishes at a course, three courses the year about ; and I
remember it was brought up by twenty of his men, who as
they came up the great stairs and in the dining-room affected
to stamp louder than they needed, which made a noise
like a clap of thunder every course that was brought up.
... At four o'clock he would retire to a covered seat he
had in his vineyard, where, like King Assuerus, he would
sit in solemn state where nobody durst approach him, and
at five his chariot, with a pair of his six gray Flanders
mares, made on purpose so narrow that nobody should
have room to sit by him." On one occasion at Perry
Hall " the doors being open he rode on horseback into the
hall, and seeing lights up the stairs, which were broad and
of easy ascent, he rode up the stairs too, and never
alicfhted from his horse till he came close to the table
where they were sitting at supper, who were much pleased
with his frolic and glad to see him." So far Sir Edward,
who describes him as *' a corpulent, tall man, of six foot
and two inches high."

His son, the third Lord Aston, was imprisoned in the
Tower on occasion of Oates's Plot.

The history of the Cliffords of Tixall does not enter
into my present scope. They were ever faithful to their
religion and loyal to their King. Of Father Walter
Clifford, S.J., born at Tixall, brother to the historian
quoted above, his Superior wrote from Palermo where he

138 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

died, that "if an angel could die, his death would be like
Father Clifford's." At Tixall the royal exiles of France
were welcomed with noble hospitality, and in this ancient
home of the Catholic Faith the late Lady Georgiana
Fullerton was born.

From our Louvain MSS. I take the following account
of Sister Gertrude's clothing : —

" My Lord and Lady Aston gave her dowry. She had
a clothing gown of cloth of silver which cost ^40, and she
gave £20 more to make it unto church stuff She gave
also another vestment and an antependium of cloth of gold
and a petticoat of cloth of silver, which she gave her niece,
Sister Catharine Aston " ; of course to be worn at her
clothing and then given to the Church. Lord Aston also
figures as a noble benefactor to the Carthusians of Sheen
Anglorum.

''Upon the 29th of June (1615) was professed Sister
Winifred Blundell, daughter of William Blundell of Little
Crosby in Lancashire, Esquire, a constant Catholic who
hath suffered very much for his conscience." Cheerfully
generous in patient suffering for the faith, for which they
were rewarded by a crowd of religious vocations in the
family, the Blundells of Little Crosby stand unsurpassed
in the heroic annals of Catholic Lancashire for their
unshaken loyalty to their religion. In Lancashire and at
Crosby they have dwelt for eight centuries, but I am only
now concerned with four generations of this heroic race,
beginning with Richard, father of the William Blundell
referred to by our chronicler in the Louvain records.

Richard Blundell of Crosby Hall, born in 1536, died a
prisoner for the faith in Lancaster Castle on the 19th of
March 1592, to which prison he had been committed for
harbouring Robert Woodroffe, a seminary priest, who
figures among the Wisbeach prisoners in a State Paper of
uncertain date. This Robert Woodroffe, condemned to
death, but reprieved, in 1591, belonged to the Woodroffes
of Burnley, whose estate by marriages passed successively

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 139

to the families of Townsley, Ingleby, Sherburne, and
Harereaves. (Another Robert Woodroffe, was ordained
priest at Rome in 1606. His father was mayor ot
Barnstaple in Devon. A third Robert Woodroffe was
ordained priest at Lisbon in 1679.)

Richard Blundell by his wife, Anne, daughter of Richard
Starkie of Stretton in Cheshire, had several children, and
William, the eldest, born in 1560, was shortly after his
return from his studies at Douay committed to prison
with his father on the same charge. There he remained
for five years, but his sufferings for his religion only ended
with his life. Our chronicler gives a brief account of the
incident of the cemetery called the Harkirke, wherein
twenty-six priests and many laymen were buried. This
affair cost him another imprisonment and a fine of ;!^2 300.
In the Rev. T. E. Gibson's Crosby Records is a little poem
of this William Blundell, whereof every stanza ends with
this refrain :

" Sweet Jesu with thy mother mylde,
Sweet Virgine mother with thy chylde,
Angells and Saints of each degree,
Redresse our contree's miserie."

His wife, Emilia Norris of Speke, also underwent a
long imprisonment in Chester Castle. She died in 1631,
her husband surviving her till 1638. It appears from a
document given in Gillow's delightful Haydock Papers that
Mrs Hoghton, widow of Thomas Hoghton of Lea Hall,
who was slain in a feud in 1589, was in October 1592
denounced to the Government because " since the death of
her husband she hath kept one Richard Blundell, brother
to William Blundell of Crosby, armiger, who is an
obstinate Papist, well acquainted with a number of semi-
naries, and he teacheth her children to sing and play upon
the virginals." This Richard was a priest, Mrs Hoghton's
chaplain.

Two of William Blundell's children claim our special

140 CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

attention. His daughter, Margaret, was our Sister Winifred.
His eldest son, Nicholas, is said by his son, Br. Richard
Blundell, S.J., to have been "born, or at least suckled, in
prison where his parents for a long time lay on account of
their faith," and year after year the name of Nicholas
Blundell appears in the recusant lists. He had thirteen
children by his wife, Anne Bradshaw of Haigh Hall in
Lancashire. Space forbids me to dwell on the Bradshaws
of the Haigh, concerning whom copious accounts may be
read in the first volume of Foley's Records, and in the
Haydock Papers. The eleventh of the thirteen was the
saintly Br. Richard Blundell, S.J., a memoir of whom is
given by Foley. His eldest brother was "the Cavalier,"
William Blundell, a glorious confessor of the faith and in
some respects the most interesting scion of the Blundell
family, in whom the manly endurance and unconquerable
gaiety of the race under the heaviest trials appear in their
brightest lustre. A charming sketch of his life, published
by the Rev. T. E. Gibson in the Month (1878-79) is taken
from the Cavalier's own writings. One or two quotations
from these will illustrate the Cavalier's character and his
career.

At the age of twenty-two we find him with the royal
forces under Lord Strange at Preston. On i8th March
1642, at the siege of Lancaster, a cannon-ball broke his
thigh and he was crippled for life. " I remember," he
writes in 1651 to his sister-in-law, Margaret Haggerston,
"there was a young fellow not far from Haggerston, that
told a friend of ours that would gladly have drawn him to
the wars, that ' it was a pity so gude a like fellow as he
should be knocked o' the head.' You remember what a
pretty, straight young thing, all dashing in scarlet, I came
to Haggerston, when you saw me last. But now, if you
chance to hear a thing come thump-thump up the stairs,
(like a knocker, God bless us, at midnight), look out con-
fidently, and if you find it to have one heel and no other, a
gross full body, with an old peruke clapt on a bald pate.

CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 141

do not fear, for all that the thing is no goblin, but the very
party we talk of."

A second quotation from the Cavalier is all I can find
room for. "The war between Charles the First and his
Parliament began a.d. 1642. That year, i8th March,
my thigh was broken with a shot, in the King's service.
A.D. 1643, all my goods and most of my lands were
sequestered for being a Papist and delinquent, as the prcr
vailing party called the King's partakers. In the year
1645 n^y wife farmed my demesne at Crosby; and all her
quick goods being lost, she bought one horse and two oxen
to make up a team. a.d. 1646, 13th November, I valued
all my goods, and comparing them with my debts I found
myself worse than nothing by the whole sum of ^81, i8s.,
my lands being all lost. a.d. 1653. Till this year I
remained under sequestration, having one-fifth part allowed
to my wife, and farming only from the sequestrators my
demesne of Crosby and the Mill. About midsummer
1653, my whole estate was purchased and compounded for
with my own money for my use, so that in the month of
February 1653, I was indebted ^iioo, 7s."

The brave old Cavalier was a welcome euest at
Haggerston and Scarisbrick in the years of his penury.
His wife and his maiden sister, Frances, both heroic women,
upheld his never-failing courage throughout his life-long
trials. Two other sisters, Margaret and Anne, were nuns
abroad, the latter dying Abbess of the Poor Clares at
Dunkirk. Of his own children, Nicholas and Thomas
were Jesuit Fathers ; five of his seven daughters embraced
the religious state, three at Rouen and two at Gravelines.
Of his grandchildren, one was a Jesuit, three were Poor
Clares at Gravelines, and two Benedictine nuns at Ghent
where their mother also died. This saintly lady was the
daughter of Roland Eyre of Hassop, and the Cavalier used
to count sixty-seven of his relatives, outside his own family,
who had consecrated themselves to God in religion. His
fifth imprisonment was in 1689, at Manchester, where he

142 CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

found himself in company with Mr Townley of Townley,
with whom, he writes, life would be pleasant everywhere.
In 1694, his son, William, was imprisoned for the sham
Lancashire Plot, and four years later, 24th May 1698, this
stalwart old Cavalier and saintly confessor of the faith
died at Crosby Hall, and was buried in the Blundell Chapel
of Sefton Church. His grandson was the last male repre-
sentative of the ancient line, whose daughter married Henry
Peppard of Drogheda, and their son Nicholas, who married
Clementina Tempest, took the name of Blundell. Their
posterity to the present generation have continued the
ancestral Catholic traditions.

The Feast of St Anthony of Padua, 12th June 161 6,
was at St Monica's the profession day of a chosen child of
grace, Sister Mary Windsor, then in her twenty-fourth year.
Her singularly beautiful death, forty years later, will be
told by our chronicler in its proper place. "A very
orderly and fervourous religious all her time," is the simple
eulogy of her holy life in one of our old MSS. As her
relative. Sister Margaret Windsor, was Prioress of Syon
at the dissolution, a brief sketch of the family history will
not be out of place.

Between Hitchenden and Slough, in the county of
Buckingham, the ancient manor of Bradenham had changed
hands more than once in the fifteenth century, having been
sold by Sir John Wiltshire, in 1426, to John Botiler, a
London clothier, and purchased after his death by one John
Scott, till, in 1500, it became the property of Sir Andrew
Windsor, Knt. Bold, active, a courtier by nature, burdened
with few scruples when the royal will was concerned. Sir
Andrew was well fitted to rise at the Court of Henry VHL
His bravery at the siege at Teronenne, won for him the
royal notice, in Tudor days the only road to promotion.
Henry made him Keeper of the Wardrobe, and in 1529 he
was summoned to Parliament as Baron Windsor of
Bradenham, and won the hand of Elizabeth Blount,
daughter of William, Lord Mountjoy. So high did he

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 143

stand with the King, that it was deemed a daring act in
Wolsey to threaten Lord Windsor with the Star Chamber
on account of his turbulent retainers, and he maintained
himself in the royal favour till his death in 1543. Further
on I have to mention his brother, Sir Anthony. His sister,
Margaret, was Prioress of Syon under Abbess Browne in
1 518, and still held that office under Abbess Jordan at the
dissolution in 1539. This Abbess was sister to Dame
Isabella Jordan, O. S. B., of Wilton. At the death of Abbess
Willoughby, Wolsey procured the election of Dame Jordan
against the wishes of the King and of Anne Boleyn, who
desired the promotion of Dame Elinor Cary, whose brother,
William, had married Anne's sister, Mary Boleyn. Wolsey 's
reasons were good, but the transaction was the first stroke
that led to the Cardinal's fall. After the dissolution, Lord
Windsor added to his estates much of the Syon property
in Gloucestershire and Wilts, and laid the foundations of
a wealthy house, represented later on, after it had lost the
faith, by the Earls of Plymouth. I may here insert in
modern spelling an extract from Bedyll's letter to Cromwell,
anent the surrender of Syon Abbey and the Windsors,

" On Wednesday my Lord Windsor came hither, sent
for by Master Leighton and me, and laboured much that
day for the converting of his sister (Margaret Windsor),
and some other of his kinswomen here ; and yesterday we
had my Lord of London here in the chapter-house of
women, and the confessor also, which both take it upon
their consciences and the peril of their souls, that the ladies
ought by God's law to consent to the King's title, where-
with they were much comforted, and when we willed all
such as consented to the King's title to sit still, and all
such as would not consent thereunto to depart out of the
chapter-house, there was found none among them which
departed." Bedyll was thoroughly fooled ; sooner than
"consent to the King's title," the nuns left England in a
body, and to their firmness we owe our only pre-reforma-
tion community now in England. He seems to have

144 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

suspected something, for he continues, "Albeit I was
informed this night that one Agnes Smythe, a sturdy dame
and a wilful, hath laboured divers of her sisters to stop,
that we should not have their convent seal, but we trust
we shall have it this morning with the subscription of the
Abbess for herself and all her sisters, which is the best
fashion that we can bring it to.'' A few old and infirm nuns
went to their families, among them, perhaps, Margaret
Windsor. Abbess Jordan was buried in Denham Church,
Buckinghamshire, with the following inscription on her
monumental brass : " Of your charity pray for the soule of
Dame Agnes Jordan, sometime Abbess of the monasterye
of Syon, which departed this lyfe the 29 of Januarye, in the
year of Our Lord 15 . . .on whose soule Jesu have mercy.
Amen." Lord Windsor died in 1543, and in his will he
leaves his sister, Margaret, an annuity of ;!^8o, 6s. 8d. to pray
for his soul and the souls of their parents, his sister surviv-
ing him (how long is not known), remained faithful to the
end to her vows. Lord Windsor in his will and elsewhere
calls himself Andrews, Lord Windsor, on account of his
mother, whose family name was Andrews. The directions
of the will were that he should be buried "in the choir of
the Church of the Holy Trinity at Hounslow . . . between
the pillars, where his entire well-beloved wife, Elizabeth,
Lady Windsor, lieth buried." It is pleasing to add that
his wife's father, William, Lord Mountjoy, gave an asylum
to the saintly Richard Whitford, monk of Syon, best known
to us as the author of the Jesus Psalter. The will afore-
said also gives direction for a monument in Hounslow to
his son, George, already dead, and in Weever's time part
of the mutilated Latin inscription was legible, and ran thus,
translated : " Pray for the souls of George Windsor, son
of Sir Andrew Windsor of Stanwell, and of Ursula his
wife . . . and of his heir-apparent, John, Earl of Oxford."
George Windsor's wife was Ursula Vere, sister of John, four-
teenth Earl of Oxford. They had no children, but Ursula
married afterwards Sir Edmund Knightly of Fawsley.

CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 145

The first Baron of Bradenham had begun his public
career under evil auspices, his summons to the Parliament
of 1529 coinciding with the beginnings of war declared
against the See of Peter, but during fifty years after his
death his descendants were not of those who favoured the
new learning. His son and heir, William, who died in
1558, was in trouble about his chaplain in the reign of
Edward VI. By his first wife, Margaret, daughter of
William Sambourne of Southcote in Berkshire, he had
seven sons and nine daughters. His sister Elizabeth, by
her marriage with Sir Peter Vavasour of Spaldington,
became the mother of Thomas Vavasour, M.D. Both
Dr Vavasour and his heroic wife died martyrs to the Faith
of Christ, overcome by the horrors of their fetid prisons,
the former in the Castle of Hull on 12th May 1585, the
latter in the Kidcote at York in 1587. But of the Vava-
sours and their connection with our community, I shall
write at length elsewhere. A second Sister Margaret
Windsor of Syon, died at Lisbon in 1643, a century after
the Prioress.

William, Lord Windsor, was among the first to draw
the sword for the rights of Queen Mary Tudor. He was
succeeded by his eldest son, Edward (our Sister Mary's
grandfather), who had, in 1557, distinguished himself among
the 7000 Englishmen serving under the Earl of Pembroke
at the storminor of St Ouintin's. In Elizabeth's reisfn he
probably did not make his religion very prominent, for
he retained her favour and entertained her at his house,
though I find him "making merry" with Frances Yaxley,
Sir Thomas Cornwallis, and other Catholics, and he
brought up his children in the faith. He died at the Spa
in 1574. His son, Frederic, fourth Lord Windsor, dying
without issue, was succeeded by his brother, Henry.
Holding aloof from the Court in the retirement of a country
life, we find him sheltering persecuted priests at Braden-
ham, so that, in 1593, Topcliffe writes to Burghley that
"he can deeply touch him and other Papists," from the

K

146 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

confession of Gilbert Laughton, prisoner in the Tower,
"come over from Father Parsons and Cardinal Allen."
The Powder Plot brought him cruel vexation, on the
charge that the conspirators had taken armour from his
house, and a third of the value of his estate was claimed
for the King. In 1608, he obtained a licence to leave
England. His brother, Andrew, Sister Mary Windsor's
father, was also a staunch and devoted Catholic.

With his son, Thomas, sixth Lord Windsor, the direct
male line ends, and, I fear, the succession of Catholic
Barons of Bradenham terminates, for although in 1660,
the title was restored to his nephew, I find no Lord
Windsor to emulate the firmness of Norfolk, Shrewsbury,
Arundell, Clifford, and their compeers, who by the
iniquitous Act of 1678 lost their seats in the House of
Lords. This Thomas, Lord Windsor, is mentioned in
Panzani's Relation to the Holy See, in 1637, as one of the
Catholic peers who had signed a petition against Bishop
Smith's government of the Catholics of England, but had
afterwards repented having done so. At the time of the
projected Spanish marriage we find him in high favour at
Court and Rear- Admiral in the navy, but in 1625 he had
to undergo hard times, and was compelled to surrender all
the arms found in his house at Bradenham to the Bishop
of Worcester, appointed by the Council to receive them.
He married Catherine, daughter of Edward Somerset,
Earl of Worcester, and died childless in 1642.

A singularly interesting letter in Dr Oliver's Collections
on the state of Catholics in those evil days, written by
Anthony Windsor, son of Sir Edward Windsor, Knt., and
great-grandson of Sir Anthony Windsor mentioned above,
brother to the first Baron of Bradenham, deserves our
attention here. This Anthony, who died in 1697 ^-^^ was
a devout Catholic, wrote the letter in his seventy-fifth year,
as he tell us. Referring to Sir William Pershall to whom
I have alluded elsewhere as connected with the Astons
and Thimelbys, he says, that the said Sir William, "a

CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 147

gentleman of my acquaintance who had been contemporary
and fellow-dweller with the great Bradshaw (the regicide)
at Gray's Inn, and had contracted a great friendship with
him, found himself obliged to apply to him for assistance
(during Oliver's usurpation). ... I have heard Sir William
affirm to the gentlemen, his friends, at the club or meeting
held at the Hen and Chicken Court, near St Dunstan's
Church in Fleet Street, where Sir William constantly
resorted, that he had experienced (Bradshaw's) favours to
himself and others." Anthony Windsor adds that on one
occasion Sir William calling on Bradshaw, the latter told
him he was studying politics, to wit, a paper of Cecil's,
"and pray you, see how you Papists are to be dealt with."
The sum of the paper was that the penal laws must never
be taken off: but that "when Papists begin to be too
popular and agreeable to their neighbours, and even to be
thought to deserve the privileges and freedom of other
subjects . . . then to obviate and allay this good opinion,
the ministry must be sure to fix some odmis design upon
them, which could never fail to be believed by the gener-
ality of the common people, and then they might put the
penal laws into execution, to what degree they should think
necessary against them." Prince Rupert is named by
Anthony Windsor, as one of those who harassed Charles I.
to recall his proclamation of indulgence and toleration in
matters of religion, out of hatred to Catholics.

With the Fortescue family we shall deal later on,
uniting with their story that of the Winters of Haddington.

It may surprise some to read in the account given
below by the chronicler of the Rev. John Bolt, that after
his conversion Queen Elizabeth desired he should resume
his post in the Chapel Royal without sacrificing his religion.
The same is said of the two eminent Catholic composers,
Tallis and Byrd, who actually retained their offices in
Elizabeth's Chapel, according to Mr Terry in his paper
read at the Newcastle Catholic Conference of 1901.
Bolt's course of action was in accordance with Catholic

148 CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

principle ; Tallis and Byrd may have acted in good faith,
though their proceeding cannot be approved.

With Sister Helen Brittan, or Breton, we are intro-
duced to a group of Catholics, of whom the most illustrious
was that most heroic confessor of the faith, Br. Thomas
Pounde, S.J., who underwent thirty years' imprisonment
for his conscience. The chronicler is probably wrong in
saying that Sister Helen's mother was a niece of Thomas
Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton. In his will the Earl
leaves bequests to "my sister Pounde" and "my sister
Bretten." It would thus seem that Mrs Brittan, like Mrs
Pounde, was a sister of the Earl, so that Sister Helen
and the glorious confessor of Christ were first cousins.
The Rev. William Brittain, priest at Lisbon College, 1633,
was probably Sister Helen's nephew. It was only about
1420 that the Breton family passed to Monckton- Farley in
Wiltshire from their home at Layer Breton near Colchester.
They had been great benefactors to St John's Abbey of
Colchester. Agnes Wriothesley, nun of Syon, was aunt
to the Earl of Southampton, and one of his descendants
was Sister Mary Philpott of St Monica's. The lady
Katharine Cornwallis mentioned in the text is still prayed
for among the benefactresses of our community. She was
a sister of Henry, the second Earl, who was imprisoned in
the Tower for his partizanship of Mary Queen of Scots.
Lady Katharine's husband, Thomas Cornwallis, was
probably the Sir Thomas Cornwallis of Brome in Suffolk,
whose religious career was interesting. High in favour
with Queen Mary, he seems to have outwardly conformed
after Elizabeth's accession, but soon fell under suspicion
of Catholic sympathies, was compelled to listen to a dispute
on religion between Dr Harpsfield, prisoner for the faith^
and one Mr Provost, and weakly made his submission to
the Queen, " asking pardon for having withstood her laws
in establishing true religion." This was in 1567, and in
1577 he is mentioned in a state paper with a Jesuit and
other Papists, as one of them. Father Yelverton, S.J., in

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 149

an autobiographical account given by Foley from the
archives of the English College, Rome, states that
(probably about 1598) "Sir Thomas Cornwallis, Knight,
of Brome, Suffolk, sent for me and invited me to stay with
him, and there for three or four months I repeated the
breviary with him." In 1598 he wrote in a touching letter
to Burghley, that his sole happiness was "with a quiet
conscience to end the rest of my days in mine own house."
(Foley's Records, S.J. ; Morris's Troubles; Louvain
MSS. ; Clifford's History of Tixall ; Camden's Britannia ;
Dugdale's Warwickshire ; Whitaker's History of Craven ;
Rdmondsons Barona^-iums ; Rose Kingsltys S/iakespeares
Country, etc.)

CHAPTER IV

From the Arrival at St Monica's of the Rev. John Bolt to the
Death of Sister Elizabeth Dumford, 1613-1618.

161 3. In the year 16 13 upon Midsummer Day was
professed Martha Holman, lay-sister, daughter of William
Holman, dwelling at Winchester in Hampshire. In this
said year was professed Sister Magdalen Throckmorton at
the age of twenty-two years, and to her profession came a
reverend priest, Mr John Bolt (alias Johnson), who having
known her in the world, was very glad to see her so
happily made a nun. This good priest, being a good
musician, was content to stay and remain with us ever
after, and did here set up all our music to the honour of
God, teaching our sisters to sing and play on the organ.
And to say somewhat of him : He was one who truly
contemned the world and desired to live poor all his life,
for he had refused those perferments which he might have
had in England, living two or three years in the Court of
Queen Elizabeth, being in great request for his voice and
skill in music ; but the Court was most tedious unto him,
being drawn by God to better things. For he had a
great desire to become a Catholic, and therefore once
seeing a fit time and occasion, he stole away from the
Court and came to live among Catholics, where after some
time he was reconciled, to his great joy ; and although he
had many allurements to seek after places of preferment,
he would not accept of them, but desired much to come
over the seas, which as yet he could not compass in some
years.

150

Church of the Holy Ghost, St Augustine's Pkiouy, Newton Aukot, S. Duvun.

[Face pao'' 150.

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 151

The Queen hearing of his departure, fell out with the
master of music, and would have flung her pantofle at his
head, for looking no better unto him, but he lived secretly
in Catholic gentlemen's houses, being very welcome every-
where for his good parts, and at length fell into great
trouble, at the time that Topcliffe persecuted Catholics,
who apprehended him for a priest. But the wicked fellow
was mistaken ; notwithstanding he made him to be kept
prisoner, and caused also irons to be put on him. He
confessed that he was a Catholic, which alone was felony
for having been reconciled, but he cared not, told simply
the truth, and our Lord took care of him, and made his
brother who now is a knight, to take his defence in hand,
insomuch that when the cruel Topcliffe sought to bring
him to torments that he might compel him to confess what
he knew of priests and Catholics, then did his friends so
work for him, that the Lady Rich wrote in his behalf a
letter, having known him at the Court. So that at length
after much ado he got free out of danger, when he sought
means to come over. Although it was even then offered
him to live in the Court at his pleasure without any
molestation for his conscience, but he liked better to live
in the Court of Christ, and therefore coming to St Omer's
studied there in the College, and afterwards was made
priest, and coming here to the profession as is said, we
requested him to stay with us, which he was content to do,
we taking him to keep as one of our Sisters, without any
pay, maintaining our music to the honour and glory of
God.

In the year 1614 was professed, upon the 17th of
August, Sister Helen Brittan, daughter to George Brittan
of Mountfarden * in Wiltshire, an Esquire of ancient noble
family, who married a niece of the Earl of Southampton
and suffered many troubles for his conscience, insomuch
that having a priest taken in his house, he was condemned
to death, but escaped by means of good friends, and
* Monckton Farley.

152 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

remained confined to his house having made away his
estate unto his eldest son, Sir Harry Brittan. The rest
of the children were left to the Lady Catharine Cornwallis,
their cousin, to take care of them, their mother being dead,
and himself living a holy retired life, saying daily the
Roman Breviary, and giving himself to prayer and good
works. This his daughter, Helen Brittan, not liking to
live according to the said lady's appointment, got her good-
will that she might come over seas to her cousin, Mrs
Fortescue, who lived at St Omer's. This way did
Almighty God take to draw her to Himself, for as yet she
had no intention to religion, but only to see these countries
and learn French, but that Supreme Goodness who loved
her and had chosen her for His spouse, turned this vain
intention of hers to a better aim, for she got by little and
little a desire to undertake some religious course, and tried
for a while the life of the Poor Clares, living some weeks as
a scholar without ; but her health would not serve for so
hard an Order, whereupon returning from Graveling
(Gravelines) to St Omer's, her cousin Fortescue, being
much affected to our monastery, wished her to seek a place
here, and also wrote in her behalf to our Reverend Mother,
so that coming hither she was admitted, having also suffi-
cient good means of her own, and passed here very well,
without any want of health, and now made her profession
upon St Lawrence's Octave at the age of twenty years.

The same year upon St John Evangelist's day in
Christmas, died our Rev. Father John Fenn, having been
long time decrepit and blind through old age. He lived
a true sincere man, one of the old stamp, and served God
faithfully. Our Lord rewarded him with an easy death,
and took him out of this life upon his patron St John's
day. He was also a skilful musician in song but not in
instruments, and did teach our sisters both at St Ursula's
and here before Mr Johnson came. He left to us at his
death in a manner all that he had, whereby the foresaid
things of his which were used in our church were now

CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 153

ours, and divers good things besides, as a fair golden cross,
also a library of books, which are still retained in the
Father's house, as a good help to our ghostly fathers.
This worthy father is buried in our cloister.

1615. Upon the 29th of June was professed Sister
Winifred Blundell, daughter of William Blundell of Little
Crosby in Lancashire, Esquire, and a constant Catholic,
who had suffered very much for his conscience, and his
father died in prison for having a priest taken in his house,
and deceasing there, as is said, they proceeded in the rigour
of justice against his son ; but he, at the cost of his purse,
made a shift to escape their hands for that time, yet suffered
many troubles and molestations afterwards, so that he was
forced to lie all night abroad when pursuivants beset his
house, which was once for fourteen days together, upon the
report of a wicked priest that fell and became a minister,
discovering what he knew of Catholics.

Another great trouble befell them upon this occasion.
There died in the parish a woman, and because she was a
Catholic they would not bury her in the church (church-
yard) but in a great common, so nigh the highway that the
horses travelling along did almost dig the dead corpse up
again, which being told to Mr Blundell, he for charity sake
enclosed a piece of ground of his own with walls, for he had
stone enough, and after this all the poor Catholics that
died thereabouts were buried there. Some did put stones
upon their graves with crosses after the Catholic manner,
yet this was done without the owner's consent, with leave
only of his wife. But at length when about eighty had
been buried there, comes the High Sheriff with thirty men
and pulled down the walls, knocking the stones to pieces,
both those of the walls and those that lay upon the graves,
and carried away the crosses in mocking manner, also
digged some part of the graves, and sounded their trumpet
coming away in great pomp ; and for permitting this place
of burial was Mr Blundell fined to pay /looo, and being
condemned in premunire was made to pay ^1000 more.

154 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

Thus doth Almighty God permit His faithful servants
awhile in this life to suffer for Him, that they may rejoice
and triumph the more for ever in heavenly glory. For
both this gentleman and his wife were good and virtuous
persons, bringing up their children in the fear of God, and
the mother would often essay her daughters, if they would
be religious. One of them was willing, and after some
years of delay upon occasions that happened, at length Mr
Worthington, being then in England, at his return hither
took with him this daughter of theirs to be religious in our
monastery, so she entered together with his daughter Ann.
She changed her name from Margaret to Winifred at her
profession, at the age of twenty-three years.

The same year, 1615, was professed Sister Ann
Worthington, daughter of our often-mentioned friend, Mr
Worthington, of whom it shall not be amiss to say some-
thing in this place, for his father died in prison a constant
Catholic, and himself being then a youth and the eldest
son, was not only imprisoned but also whipped for to make
him confess something about priests, yet they prevailed
not by this means. For indeed his house was a receptacle
for priests and religious men ; wherefore after many losses
this good Mr Worthington lived here in these parts upon
a pension of the King of Spain, he being nephew to Dr
Worthington of happy memory, who was many years
President of the College at Douay, and this young
gentleman having, as is said, married Mr Allen's daughter,
her first child, named Anna Johanna at her christening,
Mrs Allen her grandmother would needs take to keep as
her own, and that she might give her unto God she put
her to be brought up first at St Ursula's and afterwards
here at St Monica's, when the English nuns removed. So
that this his daughter, Ann, had her education in these two
monasteries all the time that Mrs Allen lived, except some-
times coming home for a little while ; but after her grand-
mother's death her father took her out of our cloister, being
about eleven years of age, that she might see the world

CHKONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 155

before she made her choice ; and having at this time
occasion of going into England, took with him his daughter,
his wife, and other children, except the eldest son, who
remained in the English College at Douay. And at his
return to these parts, she being now about the age of
fourteen, was content to enter again into religion, although
the vanities of the world had much allured her at that
youthful age. For, finding liberty in place of her holy
vocation, if the grace of God had not prevailed in her, she
would easily have yielded to follow it, but our Lord Who
from her very cradle had chosen her for Himself, did not
leave to send His holy inspiration into her soul, and also
afflicted her with sickness in the world, in such wise that
whatever difficulty she felt in nature heroically by the help
of divine grace she overcame, and entered again to her
former habitation of our cloister soon after her coming out
of England, and was now professed at the age of sixteen
years.

This year (1615) also, a widow made her profession as
a converse or white sister, named Elizabeth Clifford,
daughter to John Thimelby of Irnham in Lincolnshire,
Esquire of ancient house, who became a Catholic when this
his daughter was about fourteen years of age. After he
embraced the Catholic religion he was so constant therein
that for more than fifty years, being almost a hundred at
his death, he suffered persecution. He was not permitted to
pay the statute, but always two parts of his estate. Once
he was prisoner in Lincoln Castle and his sons taken from
him and put to divers lords to keep, but God's grace so
prevailed that none of them could be induced to heresy.
This his daughter was brought up with her grandmother,
by reason that her mother died when she was but three years
old, and her said grandmother, being a Protestant, brought
her up morally and married her according to her degree ;
but she liking better of her father's religion, gave herself
to the reading of Scripture that she might the better con-
fute the adverse part. For finding the heretics in fault

156 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

both in good life and in their opinions, she would dispute
with the parsons and speak so well in the defence of
Catholics as if she had been one herself. Being as is said
married at the age of twenty to Henry Clifford of Bracken-
bury in the same Lincolnshire, Esquire, and of near kindred
to the Earl of Cumberland, she had by this marriage nine
children ; five died young, but all christened. Her husband
being a Protestant, she remained so likewise, although
well-minded, until that at length she had a scruple to live
so long against her conscience, and so got by her father's
help to be reconciled, with her husband's liking ; for he
rather was Catholic-minded than anything else. But after
this he was enticed to go with the Earl of Cumberland into
Spain, and being desirous to have experience in such
matters went with him as one of the chief men in the fleet,
but had such ill luck in the voyage that he died there.
Whereupon, this his widow, like a good mother, took care
of her children to bring them up Catholics, and in respect
that the eldest son and two daughters were provided of
temporal means, and her youngest son was taken of a very
rich man in that shire, who having no children, intended
to make him his heir ; his mother seeing he was there bred
up in heresy, resolved to take him thence, and rather for
his sake to come herself over seas with him that he might
come to learning by Catholic teaching. This, her good
intention. Almighty God rewarded with greater benefits
also to herself, for having placed her son in the College of
St Omer's, and living in the town a retired life, she once
would needs come on a pilgrimage to Our Lady's of Sichem,
when it happened that at her return thence into the town,
being then Holy Week, she was unwilling to travel in that
good time, but desired one of the Fathers in the College of
St John's to help her to some place that she might not lie
in an inn. He then got her to be lodged and boarded here
in our Father's house for one fortnight. In which time
hearing our bell at midnight to call up the nuns to Matins,
she cfot a desire to come amongst us, and asked if she

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 157

might not be admitted for a white sister, offering also good
means. Our Reverend Mother did not deny, nor yet fully
grant her request, but told her she must wait till she would
send her further word. So back she goeth to St Omer's,
but being there our Lord permitted an occasion to drive
her hither again with haste, for she was so troubled with a
suitor (who being a gentleman of good fashion would fain
have had her in marriage), that for to avoid his importunate
molestation she came hither again and spake so earnestly
that she was admitted into our monastery and might have
been a nun but that she was loth to bind herself to the
great Office, being so much in years, although healthy, so
she was professed at the age of fifty, and having been a
widow some sixteen or seventeen years made now a most
happy second marriage, being raised by God Himself to
the dignity of becoming His spouse, far above her expecta-
tion.

This year also (1615) was professed Sister Mary Best,
daughter unto a Catholic gentleman of Yorkshire, who
also had a sister that soon followed her here, of whom we
shall speak more hereafter. This nun was one of those
that went to Bruges cloister afterwards, wherefore we omit
to speak more of her, referring it to their own Chronicle.

In the year 16 16 were professed two nuns, the one
named Sister Mary Windsor, daughter of Mr Andrew
Windsor, son of the late Lord Windsor and of the Lady
Catharine Vere, daughter to the Earl of Oxford. He was
a younger brother, but always a constant Catholic ; among
all his children God chose this for His own, even from her
tender years, alluring her to Him by this means. Being
but nine years of age, a priest upon a certain occasion
asked her, as it were in jest, whether she would be a
religious. She having before heard of nuns answered,
Yea, but he replied again : " But when you come to more
years you will be of another mind." She answered more
earnestly than before, that by her faith and truth she
would not be of other mind. Now although this promise

158 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

was of no value, being but a child, nevertheless Almighty-
God used the same as a bait to catch her by, for after-
wards she had a scruple that she must keep this promise
of hers. She was also much given to show charity even
from that young age, especially towards the sick ; having
of her mother learned some skill in surgery, she would still
be ready to help those that had sores or wounds. If any
servants of the house were sick, she would many times
secretly get good and dainty meat for to bring them, and
if they were not able to feed themselves would put the meat
into their mouths and assist them what she could. After-
wards coming to years, she was by her friends much urged
to marry and also had many occasions presented, but ever
was in trouble of mind when they were like to happen, and
our Lord also concurred to make the intended matches
crossed by some means or other. But that which also
greatly afflicted her, and made her weary of the world, was
to see that oftentimes men were like to kill one another
about her, for if she showed favour unto one, as esteeming
some virtue that was in him, another was mad with jealousy
thereat. So that at length after much ado she got her
father's consent to come over to be a religious, although
he had long denied her.

Upon an occasion that happened, whereby he began to
fear she might in time chance to marry against his mind,
for there was then one very earnest in the pursuit of her
whom he could by no means like of (he gave her leave to
enter religion). She thereupon set up a Father of the
Society of Jesus to strike the iron whilst it was hot to
procure his grant, which having obtained, she willingly
bade the world farewell, wherein she could find no true
content, and so seeking an opportunity to get over, she
came and lived a while in London, and boarded at Mrs
Cook's where she met with one Mistress Mary Altham, a
young gentlewoman, who was designed for our monastery
by Mr Cooper, a worthy priest, then prisoner in Newgate,
and her place here granted. With her then she came over

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 159

seas, but as yet unresolved to what place to take herself ;
the English Jesuitesses and Mrs Mary Ward would very
gladly have got her into their company, but she liked not
their manner of life. Then coming to the Benedictines at
Brussels she might easily have entered, for the foresaid
Father Francis Yates, who gained her father's grant, had
his sister, then Prioress there, and had well recommended
this his child unto them. Notwithstanding, she would not
beg the place, in respect that she desired first to see her
fellow-companion enter in here, thinking that herself might
afterwards return to Brussels. But that Supreme Provi-
dence who had chosen her for this place, ordained they
should both come to the town upon the eve of St
Augustine, and did suddenly put an inspiration into her
mind to like of this place, only upon understanding that we
went in white, and hearing her companion say, " O how I
long to be among those angels ! " When, therefore, they
were both together at the grate, she felt herself vehemently
moved to kneel down and beg the place with the other.
She did so, and was admitted together with her. So they
were clothed and professed upon the 12th of June, this
(one) being of the age of twenty-three. Of Sister Mary
Altham, we refer to the other house's Chronicle, for she
was of those that were sent to Bruges to begin the
monastery.

1616, upon the 29th of December was professed
Elizabeth Burrows, lay-sister, This woman had suffered
many troubles for her conscience, and her desire was still
either to become a religious or else to be made a martyr ;
which first thing Almighty God granted her, being in
years.

In the year 1617, upon the i8th of June, was professed
Mary Winter, white sister or converse, daughter unto
Robert Winter of Hoodington (Huddington), in Warwick-
shire (Worcestershire), Esquire, and her mother, named
Gertrude, was the daughter of Mr Talbot Graftot (of
Grafton) who, if he had lived had been Earl of Shrewsbury.

160 CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

This their daughter being put to nurse with a very choleric
woman, one time in her anger she took the child in fury
and flung it out of her arms, whereupon some of the
infant's bones were broken, or so put out of joint that for
all the bone-setters could do for her, and all the pains
endured therein, she remained crooked all her life, which
perhaps was the cause of her coming to religion ; for her
sisters, although they seemed to have a mind, yet the
world and friends could not so easily part. But she at fit
years was permitted by her brother to come to religion,
although he loved her most dearly, and did give her
portion. For her father, being drawn into the Gunpowder
Plot treason, was executed for it. So she came to our
monastery and was admitted for a white sister, because by
the weakness of her limbs and crookedness she was not
able to perform the duties of a black-veiled nun, and was
now professed about the age of eighteen.

The same year, 1617, upon St Mary Magdalen's day,
was professed another white sister, Mary Fortescue, her
father of no great estate but of ancient family. Their
house was a receptacle for all priests and religious men
without partiality or exception. At length being now aged,
they desired to come and end their days this side the seas,
where they might enjoy the free exercise of Catholic
religion, without continual fear and molestation as before.
Their two daughters being also well bestowed in marriage
with good Catholics, this their youngest daughter, Mary,
they would have to come over with them, who being very
crooked was not so fit for the world. But she, although
unfit in body, had not yet unfitted her mind from the vanities
of the world ; therefore was unwilling to come with them,
desiring rather to live with her sisters in pleasures and the
delights of following her own will. Yet notwithstanding
to obey her parents she condescended, but for one year or
thereabouts living at St Omer's, she continued still in her
vain mind, until that once upon the first Sunday in Advent
being at a sermon in the chapel of the English Jesuits,

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 161

where the preacher discoursed upon the Gospel of the
General Judgment read in the church on that day, she
became so moved and Almighty God so touched her heart
that from thenceforward she wholly changed her former
life, as also her gay apparel, going after that decently
attired in black, and giving herself very earnestly to
spiritual exercises. She had a great devotion to St Mary
Magdalen, taking her for her patroness, and also desired
much to enter among the English Jesuitesses, which then
lived at St Omer's, but her parents being nothing affected
to that kind of life would not permit her. So she lived
about some three years a good, virtuous recollected life
with her parents, until at length, desiring to become (a)
religious, but fearing her weakness of body by reason of
her crookedness, she understood that we took here some
for white sisters, who were not bound to rise to Matins as
the nuns, nor to the great Office, yet made the essential
vows of religion and enclosure as well as they. Where-
fore her parents, who much affected our monastery,
procured her place here, and we liked her by reason, that
having a fervent spirit it helped her, so that her former
weakness hindered not from the exercises of religious life,
and made her profession upon the day of her beloved
patroness, St Mary Magdalen, the age of twenty-six.

The same year, 1617, upon the 12th of September, was
professed Sister Catharine Jeames (James), daughter unto
Sir Harry James, a knight of a good estate, who married
a gentlewoman that was of very puritan kindred and
brought up so likewise. He notwithstanding after her
marriage prevailed so with her, that by the concurrence of
God she became a very good Catholic, and so they lived
many years, until at length he grew somewhat crazed in
his wits, as it was thought, and went to church, as also
would have had his wife do the like. But she, who had
followed him in good, would not also follow him in evil, re-
maining still so constant a Catholic, that at length, not
being able to endure his mad proceedings towards her, she

162 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

got away from him, and, as the proverb is, came from
God's blessing into a warm sun, for her sister, the Lady-
Gary, unto whom she made her refuge with her other
friends, although they willingly received and shrouded her
from her husband, yet they did so molest her with bringing
ministers to persuade her to alter her mind and become a
heretic, that she endured for some time great vexation
among them, until at length seeing this worthy lady to
remain so constant and immovable in her religion, they
left off to molest her any more, and kindly assisted her
with temporal means. Another great trouble she had
about her children ; but they were all so godly and well
disposed that their father could not make go to church and
do as he did, although he kept them from their mother.
The younger sort of them, three daughters, among whom
was this his daughter Catharine, were put to a woman in
London to learn, paying but a very small matter for their
board. Notwithstanding, God ordained so that they were
not ill-used, but yet at last the good mother got them
away and took them to live with her. After this the said
Sir Harry James turned again and rose up from his fall
becoming a Catholic, and then fell into great trouble for
his conscience, insomuch that at length he was condemned
in premunire and into perpetual imprisonment, where he
continued in the faith all his life, and died in prison, but
the mother brought up her children with great care, so
that three of the daughters became religious in several
Orders ; one was a professed Poor Clare at Graveling
(Gravelines), this other named Catharine, was recommended
to our monastery, and the third was sent to St Benedict's
at Brussels. So did Almighty God disperse the sisters on
earth that they might meet together in heaven for wanting
the company of each other in this life ; which said
Catharine was now professed at the age of eighteen years,
on SS. Probus and Hyacinthus' day in the Octave of our
Blessed Lady's Nativity.

In the year 1618, upon the 5th of August, was professed

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 163

Mary Thorowgood, lay-sister, of whose friends we cannot
declare particularly, because she died before the writino-
hereof, but this we know that they were Catholics ; she
brought ;^6o to the house, which showeth she had good
kindred.

This same year, upon the 20th of August, was professed
Sister Benedicta Colman of Staffordshire. Her mother
died very blessedly, and she came over with a Benedictine
monk who was her father's priest and placed her first at
Douay in a French monastery of his Order, but not liking
to remain there, she chanced to come here as she went to
Sichem, and begging the place was admitted ; so now
made her profession on St Bernard's day.

This year, 16 18, upon the 26th of August, died Sister
Barbara Wilford, being of the first company that came
from St Ursula's to begin our monastery, and of this nun
we may truly say that she passed through fire and water,
for she waded at her beginnings through great and
grievous temptations, and in carrying herself well, very
great consolations succeeded. She being some years
Procuratrix when Sister Margaret Tremain was made
Vestiaria, and having all the care of temporal things, was,
notwithstanding, so taken up in spirit and absorbed in
God amidst all employments that her works were small
distraction unto her. She was a virtuous religious, of a
good nature, very charitable to others, and ready to help in
any need, humble and peaceful in her conversation, strict
to herself and of great penance with leave, insomuch that
when she was in the world with her cousin the Lady
Harbert (Herbert) she would take most hard disciplines
all of a gore blood. She was professed at St Ursula's in
the year 1598.

The year 16 18, upon the 29th of September, died Sister
Elizabeth Dumford, who being of the first company that
came from St Ursula's, was taken in place of a lay-sister,
but she did not long perform that labour, only until the
first lay-sister came into the house the midsummer after,

164 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

Catharine Noe, but was employed in other offices, especially
in looking to the sick. She was a good religious, and
although of a sharp nature, yet very kind and careful of
the sick that were at her charge, and serviceable to others
but very hard to herself; so that she could scarce afford
herself a good bit of meat, and when she was Cellaress at
St Ursula's even that poor portion which they had there,
she commonly gave away to others and lived herself upon
brown rye bread and porridge or suchlike slight thing.
Moreover, when leave permitted her, she used cruel dis-
ciplines with pins, wherefore at length our Lord rewarded
her labours with a blessed and sweet death, for she spake
so devoutly about her last hour as was great edification to
us all, and in that manner rendereth happily her soul to God.
She was professed with the foresaid Sister Barbara
Wilford, and with Sister Margaret Tremain, as is before
mentioned, in the year 1598.

PREFACE TO CHAPTER THE FIFTH

The Stonehouse and Hansom families. Cruelty of the President of the
North. Elizabeth Foster, a hitherto unknown martyr. The Syon
Chronicle. The Fosters or Forsters of Yorkshire. Sir Richard
Forster and the Pontoise MSS. The Lawsons of Brough. The
Balthorpes. The haunted walk of Huddington House. The
Winters and their fellow-conspirators. Sister Mary Winter. A
place of martyrdom outside Worcester identified.

" The great veneration my father bore to his grand-
mother, EHzabeth Stonehouse," writes Mr Joseph S.
Hansom, "caused me to make researches," which we have
been allowed to use to illustrate our chronicler's narrative
of the two Sisters Stonehouse, given at the end of this
article. The venerable lady just referred to, "Elizabeth
Stonehouse, used specially to mention her relatives going
with members of the Radcliffe family to Stokesley, to be
fined for recusancy. The North Riding (Yorkshire)
Record Society's publications fully confirm this at Quarter
Sessions, held at many places."

Families of the good old English stock, claiming
unbroken Catholic descent, whether of the gentry or
commonalty, are to this day far more numerous in the
North than in the South of England. The firmness of
the sturdy yeoman of the " North countree," afforded a
stubborn support, not to be found in the same degree
elsewhere, to the ancient county families, on whom it rested
to bear the brunt of battle from the first. In every class,
the women showed themselves more courageous than the
men. We owe much to the long-suffering heroism of the

166 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

Northern Catholics from 1561 to 1631, under the sanguin-
ary tyranny of the Ecclesiastical Commission, and more
especially under the ferocious President of the North,
Henry Hastings, Earl of Huntingdon. To the splendid
records contained in Father Morris's Third Series of
Troubles, I propose here making one or two additions.
The persecutor just named, towers above all his compeers
for remorseless cruelty. His very lineaments expressed an
innate ferocity, and his mother, Catharine Pole, grand-
daughter of Blessed Margaret Pole, is said to have
habitually shrunk in terror from the sight of her fiendish
son. His fury fell heavily on all that were loyal to the
Faith of Christ, especially on defenceless women, who braved
his hatred with undaunted courage, and his prisons of
York Castle and the Ousebridge were full to overflowing
with these noble victims, amid every conceivable horror of
filth and infection. No class of Catholic escaped his
tyranny ; with the honoured names of Lawson, Vavasour,
Stapleton, Constable, Towneley, Babthorpe, Hungate,
Ingleby, Fairfax, Fitzherbert, Dolman, Clitherow, and
many another, we find on his lists Bickerdikes, Holdens,
Lunds, and others, whose families still live on in Yorkshire
and Lancashire villages, described as labourers, tailors,
servants, fishermen, common soldiers, and the like, tortured
or hanged for harbouring or helping priests.

I leave to our chronicler the beautiful story of the youth
of Christopher Stonehouse, the father of the two holy
lay-sisters. His life was a long martyrdom; in 1593 he
escaped from York Castle, and in 1604 was secretly married
to his second wife (his first was Frances Smith), Ursula

. In 161 1, 1612, 1614, and 1616, he was fined for not

going to the Protestant church. His sons, Thomas,
Cuthbert, and Christopher, trod in their heroic father's
footsteps and shared his cruel sufferings. Another son,
Andrew, born at East Row, 1597, studied at St Omer's
and in Spain, entered the English College, Rome, in 16 17,
became a Jesuit, was prisoner in York Castle from 1651 to

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 167

1660, and died in 1663. Foley, vol. iii., p. 258, has failed
to identify his origin, being not unnaturally deceived by the
spelling, Stonas, which he thought was a Latin form for
Stone, whereas it only represents the broad Yorkshire for
Stonehouse, and is very often met with in the recusant lists
for members of this family. Stone was, however, one of
his aliases. Foley also gives Easbrow by mistake instead
of East Row, a hamlet near Dunsley, the home of the
Stonehouses, two miles from Whitby.

Margery Stonas, Jane Stonas, and many others of the
family figure on the recusants' lists, but my space forbids
me to go on. Two of the brothers migrated to London
where they lived with other recusants in John Street, St
Sepulchre's parish. Now I must take leave of this family
of holy Catholic yeomen, a noble type of a vast number of
others of the same condition in the northern counties, and
pass to an almost forgotten martyr. Among the victims
of the Earl of Huntingdon's treatment of his prisoners at
York, was one Mrs Elizabeth Foster (or Forster) martyr
in the Ousebridge Prison in 1577, not to be confused with
Mrs Isabel Foster, daughter of the Venerable Richard
Langley, martyr, and who died in York Castle in 1587.
She is barely mentioned by name, except in the Syon
Chronicle from which I subjoin an extract, but Stokesley,
where Elizabeth Stonehouse used to pay her fines, was a
manor of Sir Richard Forster, whose daughter was the Bene-
dictine Abbess of Pontoise, and of whom more presently.
The Syon chronicler writes : —

" Mrs Foster, our Father's mother, was persecuted and
apprehended upon two or three accounts, one of which was,
because the town wherein she dwelt was wholly Catholic,
and many of them reconciled to the Church ; so that some-
times when the bell rung to service the minister shut up
the church doors, because few or none came to his ministry
or service, which was principally imputed to Mrs Foster,
who was charged to be so great and monstrous a Papist,
that the neighbours and towns thereabout were said to be

168 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

led and perverted by her. Another reason was the con-
tinual alms she bestowed on the poor, especially on All
Souls' Day and such like times, whereby they proved her
to be a notorious and bold maintainer of the old and
superstitious Popery and Religion, and that she and her
daughters with Mrs Clitherow and others their companions
had already with their meetings and assemblies, and even
at their gossiping and feasting done much hurt in York,
and would do much more if they were permitted. Here-
upon Mrs Clitherow was apprehended and afterwards
executed ; and Mrs Foster with her two daughters,
Mistress Frances and Mrs Ann Foster, were committed to
prison, whose imprisonment being long and painful, and
the prison standing over the great river Ouse, on the
middle of the bridge, and consequently cold, moist, and
very unwholesome, and the corner wherein she was kept
very little, close, and uncomfortable, quite contrary to her
nature and custom, her life was thereby shortened, and
with divers infirmities occasioned by her prison she was
brought to her end and death. At which time she did not
neglect through womanish fear and weakness, nor was she
unmindful of the cause for which she died, but stirred up
with a devout and deep consideration thereof, she called
for Dr Darbyshire, then prisoner, and her ghostly Father,
with the rest of the Catholics in that jail, in whose presence
she made a very zealous profession of her faith, and took
them all for witness of it, that she being then in her full
understanding and perfect senses, died there in the cause
of Christ's Church ; thanking God most humbly for it in a
devout speech to that purpose. After this she called for
the last Sacraments, desiring the company to assist her
with their prayers, and after she had received the said
Sacraments with great devotion and tears, she desired her
ghostly Father to write for her the following words : —

" * I, Ann Foster, though most unworthy of this grace
of God, do die in the profession of the Catholic Faith, and
likewise have received all the last Sacraments of the

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 169

Catholic Church, and, finally, I am to be buried after the
rite and with the ceremonies of the true Church of Christ,
wherefore my last will and testament is this, that no
minister, nor any other such person have anything to do
with my dead body.'

"And this writing which was nothing else than a con-
formity to her faith, and the cause of her imprisonment
and death, she besought her ghostly Father to put in her
hand when she was dead ; who considering her great zeal
and blessed motion satisfied her desire, which the minister
of the parish and the heretics finding in her hand and
reading it, it is almost incredible how they chafed at it, but
especially the minister, who put the whole city in an uproar,
and also complained to the Queen's Council, and to the
Earl of Huntingdon, a puritan, and the Queen's President
in that city. He complained also to the Archbishop and
the Dean and Chapter, and not only so, but most
inhumanly caused the dead corpse to be brought out of
prison, and laid openly on the bridge in the common street,
for all the world to ofaze and wonder at. In the mean
season, the President and Council, Archbishop and
Chapter, were assembled about the bold and traitorous
act, as they termed it, of writing her last will, and
immediately sent for Mr Foster, our confessor's Father,
blaming him for this heinous trespass of his wife ; to whom
he answered that he had not offended her Majesty in any-
thing, and that he was not there when his wife died ; which
is all (said he), that I can say in this matter ; finally, while
some gave sentence to bury her in some dunghill, others
would have her cast into the river from the bridge on
which she lay, Mr Foster besought their honours to
consider that she was but a woman, and being now dead,
never could offend them any more ; whereat the Council
was discontented, and asked him how he durst intreat for
such a Papist, and began to call him in question for his
conscience, affirming that they knew well enough what he
was, and would then have committed him, if some commis-

170 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

sioners on the bench had not favoured him. Notwithstand-
ing all this, he replied thus ; that whatever she was, she
was his wife, and be bound by the law of God to love,
honour, and protect her, and this being the last and least
thing he could do for her, he humbly besought them to
give him leave to bury her ; which request by friends
present was at last agreed to in this manner, that he might
take her out of the minister's power and bury her where he
would, without any other solemnity than only to put her
in the grave. Very glad was he of this licence, since they
could not have done a greater benefit either to him, or her,
for he knew very well the great love and devotion she had
to the Earl of Northumberland, who was martyred in York
and buried in Holy Cross Church, whose grave Mr Foster
opened, and without any hindrance laid her with that
Blessed Martyr's relics ; and thus two of her earnest desires
in one instant fulfilled, according to the Prophet in the
144th Psalm: Voluntateni tiinentium se faciei : God will
fulfill the desires of those that fear Him. One thing she
desired was to be buried in the church where the foresaid
Martyr was laid ; the other to be buried without any
heretical ceremonies. This news of the manner of his
mother's death was brought to our Father in Rome, and
was more fully related to him by her own ghostly Father,
Mr John Marsh, who not long ago died a professed
religious in Syon."

A companion picture to the death of Ann Foster, the
gentle martyr who lies buried in York at the feet of
Blessed Thomas Percy, is found in the martyrdom of her
daughter-in-law, Isabel Foster (or Forster), the daughter
of Venerable Richard Langley, who was executed at York
on ist December 1586; Ann Foster's martyrdom being
consummated in 1578, and Isabel Foster winning her
crown a year after her father in 1587.

The Fosters, or Forsters, who were seated at Adder-
stone, or Edderstone, in Northumberland, in the earlier
part of the fourteenth century, derived their family name

CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 171

from the hereditary office of Forester to the Bishop of
Durham. Fortunate marriages served to increase the
wealth and influence of the family, but for the intelligence
of this narrative it is enough to note that Florence,
daughter of Thomas, Lord Wharton, gave her hand in
marriage to Thomas Forster of Adderstone (whose will is
dated in 1589). John, probably a younger son, now
appears as Forster of Earswick in Yorkshire. After his
wife's death in Ousebridge Prison, related in our last
number, he narrowly escaped imprisonment for his religion.
His wife's name is given in the Yorkshire Visitations as
Agnes Lascelles, but she is called Anne in the Syon
Records.

Father Joseph Seth Foster, Bridgettine monk, to
whose heroic charity and long-suffering we owe the pre-
servation in those stormy times of the Syon community,
first claims our attention among the children of John and
Anne (or Agnes) Foster. One of Cardinal Allen's earliest
disciples in the work of the seminaries, by which the
stamping out of the faith in England was effectually
checked, he took his M.A. at Douay, and in 1875 was sent
with the Rev. George Birkett to Rome, to aid by his
winning prudence and holy example the formation of the
English College. His first impressions are told by himself
in a MS. among the Syon Records: "Every one (of the
English students) went where they would, and only when
they would to the schools, nor kept any such exercise or
disputation at home or abroad, as all the other seminaries
do in Rome." To place the College under Jesuit control
was the remedy he counselled, and he saw it effected
during his stay. At Rome he received the news of his
mother's death in prison, from the lips of an eyewitness.
Returning to Douay in May 1582, he was employed in
teaching philosophy at Rheims, till, in 1584, he was ordered
to England. One Browne, a spy of Leicester's, had
furnished an accurate account of his movements and
appearance, and all was arranged for his arrest on landing.

172 CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

At Rouen he visited the English nuns ; the desire of
a religious life, which he had long secretly nourished,
became irresistible, and with Allen's willing consent he
was clothed and professed a Bridgettine monk. He led
the community from Rouen to Lisbon, and after forty-
four years of a saintly life in the cloister, died at Lisbon
in 1628.

His brother, William, inherited the family estates at
Earswick, in the parish of Huntingdon, some six miles
north of York, and at Osbaldwick, two miles east of the
same city. William Foster had been brought up a
Protestant. It was probably about the time of his mother's
martyrdom that he embraced the Catholic Faith, for in
that same year (1578) his kinsman. Father Richard Holtby,
S.J., arrived in Yorkshire, by whom he was received into
the Church, the fruit of a martyred parent's prayers.
His second wife was Isabel, the daughter of Venerable
Richard Langley, a gentleman of ancient family and great
wealth, executed at York, ist December 1586, for harbouring
the two priests, Mush and Johnson. A MS. published
by Father Pollen, S.J., says that Richard Langley kept an
underground house as a refuge for priests. In fact, our
Louvain Chronicle states that four priests were in hiding in
his house at Grimthorpe when the pursuivants broke into
it. Two were not discovered, the other two escaped from
prison, so that the holy martyr's double prayer was granted,
in their safety and in his own crown. His irrepressible
gaiety in prison astonished his jailers, and like a bridegroom
to his wedding, he went to his death on the scaffold.

Richard Langley's daughter, Isabel Foster, died from
the sufferings of her prison in York Castle. " She was
apprehended," says Father Grene, "as she was coming
from the prison (whither she had gone with alms for the
confessors), and carried before the deans, who committed
her to the Castle close prisoner. Before her death, she
was heard to call upon her father, desiring him to stay
with her, or to let her go to him ; at which one of the

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 173

standers-by said : * I am here, what would you have me to
do ? ' She said : ' I speak not to you ; it is my own
father ; do you not see him by you ? ' The next day she
died, to the great comfort of the beholders, 3rd December
1887, and was buried among the rest under the Castle wall."
Of one of her sisters our Chronicle says, that "she threw
herself away in marriage on Martin Wickham, a yeoman
who was no Catholic." Their daughter became a lay-sister
at St Monica's, and died there in 1672 in her seventy-
eighth year, " laborious all her life, and a downright, good,
sincere woman," writes the good chronicler. William
Foster's first wife was Elizabeth Thweng, of a Yorkshire
family that has added two of its sons to the roll of our
martyr-priests.

After the martyrdom of his second wife, he married
Margaret (or Mary), the daughter of Thomas Booth of
Killingholme in Lincolnshire : but being weary of so many
scenes of horror, he resigned his estates to his son, Richard,
went beyond seas, and died at Antwerp.

Father Foster's two sisters, Anne and Frances, shared
the horrors of their mother's imprisonment in the Ouse-
bridge Kidcote. The former married Richard Smith
(perhaps of Eyton Bridge, near Whitby). The aureole
of martyrdom was succeeded in the family annals by the
grace of the priesthood and of vocations to the cloister.
Among Father Foster's relatives in the Syon community
were the two Sisters Wharton, Sister Clare Foster, his
niece, and Sister Frances Holtby. In a MS. of Abbess
Beckett of Syon, I read : " Father Foster endeavoured
also to augment the number of the brothers, and sent for
a nephew of his out of Spain. His name was Mr William
Smith. He made profession of our holy rule, and was
Confessor-General after the death of his uncle. The said
Father Smith had a sister, Sister Bridget Smith, and in
her time she had a niece, who was Sister Mary Smith.
Sister Mary Meade, who is now our Abbess, is niece to
Sister Mary Smith ; a prudent and discreet woman." She

174 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

then tells how Sister Mary Smith's father presented the
community with a shipload of wood at her reception.

Yet another of the family died in bonds for the faith ;
Father Thomas Foster, alias Wharton, perished in Lincoln
Jail in 1648 ; a younger son of William Foster. Besides
his sister, the Syon nun, he had another, Frances, married
to Francis Hodgson of Kirkburne.

A little MS. volume, still in its original richly stamped
and embossed binding, from which we learn the subsequent
career of Sir Richard, the eldest son of William Foster of
Earswick, by his wife, Isabel Langley, is preserved by
the Teicrnmouth nuns. On one side of the bindingf is
stamped in gilt letters, "Henry Abergavenny"; on the
other, " Wrath and hastynesse ar {sic) evyl counsellours."
The manuscript is in the handwriting of Lord Aberga-
venny's daughter. Abbess Neville of Pontoise, and contains
the annals of that community (now St Scholastica's Abbey,
Teignmouth) from its beginning to 1684. Concerning
Abbess Christina Forster (1656- 1662), Abbess Neville
writes : "Her father was Sir Richard Forster, Lord of
Stokesley and many other fair tenements in the North
part of England. He was Chief Treasurer to the Queen-
mother of England, wife of Charles the First of Great
Britain. Her mother was one Mrs Anne (Jane) Middleton,
of a very illustrious and pious family. Sir Richard
Forster at Boulogne and Pontoise gave this community,
all money, the full sum of 41,000 livres. . . . Sir Richard
Forster still continued his bounty and kindness to his
daughter, and as long as his health and strength permitted,
came often to visit and assist her with his purse and
advice. But now old age and a palsy humour detained
him from going and taking the satisfaction of such a visit,
and called upon him to prepare himself, as he did most
piously, for his happy end. Having done all that became
the duty of a good Christian, assisted by Rev. Father
Wigmore, he most joyously rendered his soul into the
hands of his Creator. His body was embalmed and in a

Ladv Lucy Herhert.
Sister of Winifred, Countess of Nithsdale. Prioress of Aiigustinian Nuns at Bruges ; died 1744.

Fritm I'nrtnnt at Efcriii<)knM.

[Face page 175.

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 175

leaden coffin brought to Pontoise, and deposited in the
Abbey of St Martin's. Upon his grave at St Martin's
these words are written : ' Here lyes Messier Richard
Forster, Knight and Baronet, and Baron of Stokesley,
Treasurer-General to ye Queene of Great Britain.' He
died the 27th of January 1661. As the body passed to
St Martin's, by her Ladyship's (Abbess Forster's) appoint-
ment, contrary to the advice of other friends, it was
brought to our court, and she herself came down and
prayed by it." Sir Richard was created a baronet by
Charles I. The second and third baronets also bore the
name of Richard, doubtless so christened out of devotion
to their martyred ancestor.

Sister Dorothy Lawson was professed at St Monica's
in 1618, and died on the Feast of the Immaculate Concep-
tion in 1628. Two of her sisters were Benedictine nuns at
Ghent, and her brother, Ralph, died while a student at
Douay College. They were the children of Roger Lawson
of Heaton and of Dorothy Constable the above-mentioned
Mrs Dorothy Lawson. Originally seated at Cramlington,
some ten miles north of Newcastle-on-Tyne, the old
Northumbrian family of Lawson, in the reign of Henry
VHL, became, by purchase from the crown, the owners
of the manor of Byker with Heaton manor-house, a little
to the east of Newcastle. Sir Ralph Lawson acquired
Brough, the actual family seat, near Catterick in Yorkshire,
by his marriage, in 1568, with Elizabeth, daughter of Roger
Burgh of Brough.

The frequency of monastic vocations was a noteworthy
characteristic of the family even in earlier times. William
Lawson, a Carthusian monk, of Mount Grace in 15 18, was
uncle to James, merchant-adventurer, and twice Mayor of
Newcastle. The last Benedictine Prioresses of Nesham
and of St Bartholomew's, Newcastle, were two sisters of
the said Mayor, Jane and Agnes Lawson. Roger, our
Sister Dorothy's father, who died before his father, Sir
Ralph Lawson of Brough, was the great-grandson of James.

176 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

He married Dorothy, daughter of Sir Henry Constable of
Burton-Constable, and the biography of this heroic lady,
written by her Jesuit confessor, and published at Newcastle
by permission of Sir William Lawson, Bart., in 1855, gives
us an unusual picture of Catholic life in the days of the
penal laws, and a singularly pleasing one.

Mrs Dorothy Lawson's mother and her mother-in-law
had both been among the Earl of Huntingdon's prisoners
in York Castle, and the latter had given birth to a child
while in prison. Her mother was the sister of Robert,
first Lord Dormer, and of Jane Dormer, the saintly
Duchess of Feria, and Dorothy Constable was born at the
seat of the Dormer family at Winge in Buckinghamshire.
She was only seventeen when, at her parent's wish, she
was married to Roger Lawson of Heaton. Her Jesuit
biographer thus quaintly describes the progress of the
bridal party from Winge to Brough : —

" From Burton (a halting-place) she departed to Brough
with a far greater retinue than before ; but it most increased
at Leeman, a village six miles from the end of her journey,
where she was forced to make a halt by Sir Ralph Lawson,
who, at his first approach with a hundred horse of his
attendance, saluted her with the ordinary salute of the
kingdom, but not permitting her to alight : then he took
her from horse himself, imparted his benediction, which she
humbly craved on her knees in the dust, and mounted her
again on a snow-white steed which he had bought for her,
caparisoned with crimson velvet, embroidered with swans
and martens of pearl ; these the arms of Lawson, those of
Brough whose daughter Sir Ralph had married. Between
the two knights, her father on the right, and her father-in-
law on the left, she rode more like an Esther or princess
than an esquire's spouse." Her first tholight on arriv-
ing at Brough was " her Evensong and examen of
conscience."

With Mr Anthony Holtby (whom the writer calls
gentleman-in-waiting to Sir Henry Constable), the brother

CHRONICLE OF ST MOXICxVS 177

of Father Richard Holtby, S.J., then in charge of the
EngHsh Jesuit Mission, she at once arranged that the
Father should come for a week to Brough, for the settling
of her spiritual life and providing for a chaplain. As yet
she observed the usual precautions of those days for secrecy,
her husband being still a Protestant. For a time she
remained at Brough, and the conversion of all Sir Ralph's
nine children, including her husband, shows how God
blessed the zeal that was tempered with incomparable
meekness. With the increase of her family, it was found
necessary to leave Brough for Heaton where I read that
on her arrival she found but one Catholic family in the
parish, and at her death left not a single Protestant one,
while "six altars were erected for divine service," although
durinof her husband's lifetime all was conducted with the
strict watchfulness against discovery universal among
Catholics in that evil time.

Roger Lawson died in 1614, and the holy widow, leav-
ing Heaton, built a large house on the banks of the Tyne,
which she named St Anthony's from a tradition that the
Saint of Padua had formerly been venerated on the spot,
" his picture being decently placed in a tree near the river
Tyne for the comfort of seamen." Now begins the extra-
ordinary part of her career. Casting concealment to the
winds, she caused the name of Jesus in colossal letters to
be inscribed on the side of the house nearest the river, so
that crowds of sailors, especially Catholic foreigners, came
for Mass and the Sacraments to her chapel, which she had
dedicated to our Blessed Lady. The first stone was laid
by Father Holtby, who often lived at Heborne, the seat of
the Hodgson's only four miles away. (Her son, Henry,
married Anne Hodgson of Heborne.) From her bio-
grapher I abridge what follows : "Her chapel was rich,
the altar vested with various habiliments as usual in
Catholic countries. Mass every day in the morning,
Evensong about four in the afternoon, with the Litany ol
Loretto : between eight and nine at night, Litanies of the

M

178 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

Saints. On festival days, Sermon or Catechism in the
afternoon, to which later the neighbours' children came,
she distributing medals and Agnus Deis to those that
answered best. In Holy Week, Tenebrae with the candle-
sticks of fifteen lights ; on the Thursday a sumptuous
sepulchre, rich with precious stones, the neighbours watch-
ing before it day and night ; and on Friday the creeping to
the Cross. On Holy Saturday, the Benediction of the
Paschal Candle, and at Mass a glorious altar, and the
ringing of many little bells at the Gloria in excelsis. Well-
niorh a hundred would make their Easter Communion on
Easter Sunday in her chapel. On Christmas night were
celebrated three Masses, which being ended all break their
fast with a Christmas pie and depart to their houses ; in a
room near the chapel, a crib, with music to honour our
Lord's Nativity."

This went on for nine years ; all Catholic houses in the
neighbourhood, says her chaplain, were visited and harried
by pursuivants, but not even once did they visit St
Anthony's, and the Jesuit Fathers made their annual
retreats there, half a dozen at a time. When one of her
chaplains. Father Morse, the martyr, was in Newcastle
Prison, she openly visited him, provided him and another
imprisoned priest with all necessaries for saying Mass, as
well as with clothes and food. On Palm Sunday, 1632,
this valiant woman died the death of the saints. Miracles
are said to have been wrought by her after death. Her
obsequies were most glorious : some twenty barges formed
a procession on the river with that which conveyed the
body, a body of horsemen being stationed at intervals
along the banks.

On arriving after nightfall at Newcastle, " they found
the streets shining with tapers, as light as if it had been
noon. The magistrates and aldermen attended at the
landing-place to wait on the coffin, which they received
covered with a fine black velvet cloth, and a white satin
cross, and carried it but to the church door, where they

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 170

-delivered it to the Catholics only, who with another priest
laid it with Catholic ceremonies in the grave." A strange
sight indeed for those times.

Of Mrs Dorothy Lawson's three children, who entered
religion, I have spoken above. Her son, Henry, married
Anne, daughter of Robert Hodgson of Heborne, and his
son, Henry, was slain in the royal cause at Melton Mowbray ;
another of his sons and a daughter took their vows in the
Order of St Benedict. In the next generation we have
one son a Benedictine, another a Jesuit, one daughter a
Benedictine nun at Pontoise, and four others, nuns of
Mary Ward's Institute. Sister Catherine Lawson died an
Augustinian nun at Paris in 1676, and the grace of voca-
tions has never ceased in the family down to the present
day.

Lady Grace Babthorpe tells in the subjoined chapter
the story of the Babthorpes of Babthorpe. We add a few
notes, chiefly from Father Morris's Troiibles.

From Osbert de Babthorpe, the founder of the family,
to Father Albert Babthorpe, S.J., who died in 1720, the
last of his race and name, this noble and most pious
Catholic family numbers twenty generations. Their
worldly estate was at its highest under the Plantagenet
monarchs, and declined under the Tudors. Two Sir Ralph
Babthorpes, father and son, holding offices in the household
of the saintly King Henry VI., were slain in that King's
cause at the battle of St Alban's in 1455.

But far exceeding all earthly splendours was the scene
witnessed in the Church of St Monica's Priory at Louvain,
on the morning of the Feast of St Peter's Chains in 162 1,
when the aged lady, widow of Sir Ralph Babthorpe, and
her young grandchild, Frances, took their vows together
before the altar, and her son, Ralph, priest of the Society
of Jesus, preached the profession sermon. The Feast was
an appropriate one in the case of the venerable lady, who
had undergone a long imprisonment for her loyalty to the
See of Peter, and was, as her chaplain wrote, in her life-

180 CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

time, "the chief pillar of religion," in that part of the
country. "In the house (Osgodby) where I lived," writes
Father Sharpe, S. J., "we were continually two priests, . . ,
Though there lived together in it three knights with their
ladies and their families, yet we had all our servants
Catholic. On the Sundays we locked up the doors and
all came to Mass ; we had our sermons, catechisms, and
spiritual lessons every Sunday and holiday. On the work-
days we had for the most part two Masses, and of them
the one for the servants at six o'clock in the morning, at
which the gentlemen, every one of them without fail, and
the ladies, if they were not sick, would even in the midst
of winter of their own accord be present ; and the other we
had at eight o'clock for those who were absent from the
first. In the afternoon at four o'clock we had Evensong,
and after that Matins, when all the knights and their ladies
would be present, and stay at their prayers all the time the
priests were at Evensong and Matins." The three knights
were Sir Ralph Babthorpe, his son, Sir William, and his
son-in-law. Sir George Palmes. (Foley, vol. iii., p. 202.)
Such was the life of this holy matron after her release from
prison, till her husband's death, when she exchanged the
garb of a high-born lady for the white robe of our Canon-
esses at Louvain, though we cannot say if we should apply
to her what Father Grene writes of her fellow-sufferer in
the same northern persecution, the heroic Anne Lander,
when he describes her attire : " Her brave gown, trimly set
out with fringe and lace, her golden coifs and shining"
cowles, her gorgeous hats adorned with gold, her fine
frizzled locks, which were wont to be laid abroad for a
show," and the rest.

Lady Babthorpe was singularly blest in her children
and her posterity. Besides Ralph, who preached at her
profession, Thomas, his younger brother, entered the
Society and was Rector, first of the English College, Rome,
and afterwards of St Omer's. Their elder brother Robert
(in religion Dom Mellitus), was one of the Benedictines

CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 181

who were sent from Dieulonard to make a foundation at
St Malo's ; "an industrious missioner, in which function
he died in the North," writes Bennet Weldon. From the
Chronicle we learn that he was imprisoned for the faith.
The eldest son, Sir William, sold his manors of Babthorpe
and Osgodby, entered the Spanish service, and was slain
in battle at Ardres in 1535. We shall meet later on two
other descendants of Lady Babthorpe among our Louvain
nuns ; two others were professed with the Canonesses at
Bruges, and four entered the Institute of the Blessed
Virgin Mary, whereof two were Superioresses-General.
Besides the two Jesuits mentioned above, four of Lady
Babthorpe's descendants entered the Society.

Turning to her own family, we learn from our chronicler
that she was the daughter of William Birnand of Brimham,
Recorder of York in 1573, a family subsequently repre-
sented by that of Trappes — Birnand of Nidd in Yorkshire,
and as we read through the names of those heroic Catholic
families, such as Towneley, Lomax, Trappes, Norton, and
others, with whom the Birnands of Brimham and Knares-
borough were allied by marriage, they recall many a tale
of patient suffering and undaunted heroism in defence of
the faith of our Fathers. Their lonor sufferings cannot
but have been a source of blessing to England, and to
bring to light what we can of their history must needs be
fruitful to us who live in days when that heroic struggle
might easily be forgotten.

Sister Grace Babthorpe lived fourteen years of
cloistered life, till her death in 1635 ; her granddaughter,
Sister Frances, died in 1656. The two lay-sisters, Anne
Stonehouse and Ursula Whitseal, had both been attached
to Lady Babthorpe's household before entering religion at
St Monica's.

Sister Mary Thursby, described by our chronicler as
^'the daughter of Christopher Thursby of Buckenhall, in
Essex," seems to be, as I am informed by Mr Gillow, the
eldest daughter of Christopher Thoresby of Durward

182 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

Hall, Bocking, Essex, by his wife, Audrey, daughter of
Nicholas Timperley of Huntelsham, Suffolk.

We may now revert to a family mentioned in our last,
chapter.

A superstition long lingered, perhaps still lingers,
round Huddington House in Worcestershire, situated in a
corner of Feckenham Forest. It was the seat of the family
of Wintour, or Winter, to whom the villages of Huddington
and Himbleton belonged. " Lady Wintour's Walk," in
front of the mansion used to be shunned after nightfall, for
here people said the ghost of the Lady of Huddington
used to walk. Gertrude, the daughter of John Talbot of
Grafton, was the wife of Robert Winter of Huddington
executed with his two brothers for his share in the Gun-
powder Plot. In the dark days of November 1605, arms,
ammunition, and horses had been collected at Huddington
for the intended risino- of the disaffected Catholics in
Worcestershire and Warwickshire, had the plot been
successful. A watch was kept at the window for the
expected messenger from London, while the lady of the
house awaited her husband's return on the walk. It had
been agreed that when the messenger arrived on the brow
of a neighbouring eminence, if he waved his hat, it was a
sign that all was well, if he rode on with head covered, all
was lost.

The doings of the conspirators after Guy Fawkes's
arrest are well known ; how Catesby and his companions
rode all through the night and brought the tidings to
their comrades at the Red Lion Inn at Dunchurch, and
how thence they rode in furious haste Coventry way,
crossing the Roman road known as the Fosse at Prince-
thorpe, where now stands the Benedictine Priory : then
on through W^apenbury and by the old church of Weston,
now on the estates of Lord Clifford, and how finally they
were brought to bay at Holbeach House in Staffordshire.
To the anxious lady at Huddington the message was
brought with all speed, and when the band of worn-out

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 183

horsemen rode up to the walk, which for long years after
her spectre was said to haunt, she knew that all was lost.

The story has its interest for us, for Robert and
Gertrude Winter of Huddington were the parents of
Sister Mary Winter, professed at St Monica's in 1617.
To say the truth, it is rather unlikely that the Lady of
Huddington, was privy to her husband's part in the
conspiracy. When examined, by order of the Council,
about those who came to her house at Huddington on the
evening of the 6th of November, and rode away next
morning at sunrise, she said " she heard no talk of the
rebellion." Ten years afterwards, Mary Winter gave
herself to God in religion, and lived seven years in the
cloister, dying in 1624. Her two uncles had, like her
father, perished on the scaffold for their share in the Plot.
Her aunt, Dorothy Winter, was the wife of John Grant of
Norbrook, who was executed with the rest of his fellow-
conspirators, a moody gentleman described by his friend.
Father John Gerard as being "fierce as a lion and of
undaunted courage," so that for terror of his violence the
priest-hunting pursuivants would leave his house unmo-
lested. In a letter dated from Chastleton House, Thomas
Winter writes to John Grant : " If I may, with my sister's
leave, let me entreat you, brother, to come on Saturday
next to meet us at Chastleton (Catesby's residence at the
time). I can assure you of kind welcome and your aquaint-
ance with my cousin Catesby, will nothing repent you. I
would wish Doll here, but our life is monastical. Commend
me to your mother, and so, adio. — Thomas Winter." John
Talbot of Grafton, was the gentleman who drove the
fugitive conspirators from his door. Father Gerard's
narrative gives us a high idea of the Winter family.
Concerning Robert, Sister Mary's father, he. writes : "Mr
Robert Winter was an earnest Catholic, a wise man, and
of grave and sober carriage and very stout, as all ol that
name have been esteemed." Thomas, his brother, is praised
as a orood scholar and linoruist, a brave soldier and of

184 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

noble bearing and delightful conversation, "very devout
and zealous in his faith and careful to come often to the
Sacraments, offensive to no man and fit for any employ-
ment : I wish," adds Father Gerard, " he had been
employed in some better business." John, the youngest of
the three brothers, devoted himself while under sentence of
death to the conversion of a condemned felon. All died
deploring their crime with sentiments of the deepest piety
and resignation. John suffered at Redhill, Worcester,
with the two Jesuit martyrs, Father Oldcorn and the lay-
brother Ralph Ashley. The writer remembers that when
a boy he was taken by his father to the spot and told that
here two Jesuits had been hanged. It was the corner of a
field made by the meeting of two roads, outside the city
and at the top of a hill, if he remembers aright. But on
this point a Benedictine correspondent writes : " To give
you a little more correct information as to the exact place
of martyrdom of Father Oldcorne and Br. Ralph Ashley, I
had the information from the late Robert Berkeley, Esq.,
of Spetchley, a good authority on matters affecting
Worcester and its neighbourhood. You are correct in
saying that they were martyred at Redhill, but not in the
corner of the field made by the meeting of the two roads.
(Here follows a pen-and-ink sketch by my correspondent.)
Mr Berkeley told me the execution was not in the angle of
the field made by the two roads, but at the spot in the
garden where I have marked." (The spot is immediately
to the right of the division of roads as one comes from
Worcester, and is now occupied by a pear tree as shown
on the sketch.)

The ancient family of Wintour had held lands in
Worcestershire in the reign of Henry VI., and had inter-
married with the houses of Neville, Throckmorton, Catesby,
Tresham, Bracebridge, and many another. Robert Winter,
grandfather of the conspirators, was twice married, and
the three brothers executed for Cecil's Plot were his de-
scendants by his first wife, Catharine Throckmorton. Sir

CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 185

Edward Winter who married Lady Anne Somerset,
daughter of the Earl of Worcester, was his descendant by
his second wife, Elizabeth Wyrrall. The disaster of the
Plot was the ruin of the Huddington branch. At that
ill-omened house the fugitive conspirators met, confessed
and were absolved, before separating for flight. There they
were assembled to the number of forty. Poor Gertrude
Winter's after-life was one long suffering for her faith.
In the State Papers we find in 1607 a grant of the benefit
of her recusancy to Archibald Napier, some needy hanger-
on of the Court. Six months before a grant had been
made to Sir William Anstruther of the moiety of all goods
of Sir Edward Digby, Rookwood, Tresham, Robert
Winter, and others. Quieter times followed with the
diminished fortunes of the family, always noted for its
loyal adherence to the Catholic Faith. Thus, in a rare
little volume, called England's Worthies, published in
1647, we read of Sir John Winter, "that active Papist" in
command of the Welsh royalist forces defending Beachley,
at the conflux of the W^ye and Severn, against the rebels
under Colonel Massey.

Helen Winter of Cooksey, a sister of our Sister Mary, is
recorded as having been a noble benefactress to the Jesuit
mission. Her splendid and costly gifts of vestments are
still to be seen at Stonyhurst and Worcester. Sister Mary
found, among her religious sisters, Margaret Garnett and
Dorothy Rookwood, whose nearest and dearest had
perished in the same catastrophe. Sister Mary had gone
to her reward a year before the community were joined by
the daughter of Lord Mounteagle. Her mother was the
sister of Francis Tresham, another of the ill-fated band of
Cecil's victims. Their connection with nuns and priests is
rather remarkable. The two Wrights were uncles of the
saintly Mary Ward, whose aunt had married Thomas
Percy ; Abbess Tresham, of Syon, had died at the fimiily
mansion in Northamptonshire in 1559, and a generation
earlier, we find a Sister Catesby among the Syon nuns,

186 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

and the Rookwood family was represented in half a dozen
religious orders in those days. Robert and Gertrude
Winter are duly commemorated on the anniversaries by
the nuns at St Augustine's.

To the Babthorpe notes, I have to add that the wife of
Ambrose Rookwood the conspirator, and the wife of Sir
William Babthorpe were sisters, daughters of William
Tyrwhitt and granddaughters of Sir Robert, as our
Chronicle states concerning the latter.

CHAPTER V

From the Profession of Sisters Stonehouse and Lawson to that of
Sister Grace Babthorpe and her Grandchild, Sister Frances
Babthorpe, with thf. History of the Babthorpes, Brookes, and
gouldings, 1618-162i.

The same year, 1618, was professed Ann Stonehouse, lay-
sister, daughter unto Christopher Stonehouse, a good man
and a most constant Cathohc, dwelling in Dunsley, two
miles from Whitby in Yorkshire. This man's father dying
when he was a little boy, the officers took away a house
which he had bought, because he was a Catholic, and left
his widow only a poor cottage and one cow, whereupon she
lived, and kept her son at school with the labour of her
hands ; who being a very towardly youth devised means to
help his mother. Wherefore, the fashion being then to
wear straw hats, he would dye straw of divers colours, and
making extraordinary fine hats, got money, for they lived
so poorly that when he went to school he had but a little
bean bread and an egg. It happened once that a man who
had a good trade of working in jet and amber, seeing the
boy, liked him, and took him for to teach him his trade,
which he learned soon, being very apt. This master of his
being no Catholic, it pleased God by a strong means to
convert him, for he saw a book lying on the stool where he
used to sit, and looking into it found it was a Catholic
book ; and reading therein was touched with such remorse
that he said to this youth : " Oh ! what shall I do ? I am
damned unless I become a Cathohc." His servant needed
no persuasion, because he knew what true religion was of

187

188 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

his parents. After his master was reconciled, he died, and
leaving one son, recommended him to his servant, that he
should teach him the said trade as he had taught him.
He did so, and took care of him in such wise that by the
young boy's work and his own he hired a house and lived
pretty well. Then also he set himself in most godly
manner to harbour and receive priests and religious men,
whereupon he began to be so persecuted that he had scarce
any quiet all his life long, but was either in prison or still
in danger to go there again when he was out, for he never
left receiving of priests. They also provided him of a wife,
named Frances Smith, a good Catholic like himself. It
happened, when his wife lay in of her first child, the officers
of justice, seeing him ever so constant and immovable in his
religion, put him into prison, thinking that for the love of
his wife and child and for not to be absent from them he
would yield. But perceiving he was all one, they thrust
him into the dungeon and gave him only the straw where-
upon a corpse had lain of one that was dead there a little
before, and in the night the rats and mice did so vex him
with noise as if the dead man's ghost had been thereabout.
Afterwards, when he got himself released from prison, it
was always to come again when they pleased. He begged
of Almighty God that if ever a priest were taken in his house
he might be martyred with him. But God ordained so
that never any was taken. Another thing he also purposed,
that if our Lord did send him two daughters he would
name one Ann and the other Mary, and give them both to
God, which indeed happened accordingly. To speak now
of his daughter Ann ; her mother, his first wife, died when
she was ten years old, and afterwards the priests provided
her still of places in Catholic gentlemen's houses. Living
once with the Lady Ingleby, there was another maid in the
house, who had a mind to be a religious, and this wench,
together with a man who afterwards became a lay-brother
in the Society of Jesus, would still be talking in praise of
the religious life, whereupon she got also a great desire

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 189

thereto, but kept it to herself for seven years, because she
knew not how to attain it, yet she hoped in God that He
would ordain some means, and hearing a story of one that
desired to be a religious, and not knowing how to obtain
such a good, fasted every Saturday in honour of our Blessed
Lady that she would help her, and at length had her desire
fulfilled by a means that was miraculous and would be too
long to recite here ; she now also fasted on Saturdays for
the same end. And our Lady assisted her likewise, for
the Lady Babthorpe, of whom we shall speak at length
hereafter, sent into Yorkshire for the forementioned maid
who desired to be a religious, to come over to her that she
might help her into some monastery. But to see the
inconstancy of minds if they be not assisted by God : she
who before talked so much of it, had now no mind to it at
all, wherefore this our Ann, dwelling then with the Lady
Palmes, daughter to Lady Babthorpe, discovered her mind
to her ghostly Father, who sent her in the other's place, and
so she came and served that lady in this town about a
year, and desired her lady that she would speak that she
might enter here for a lay-sister, and humbly desired to be
always kept within doors. So she was admitted, and her
time of probation being past, we liked her well, and she
made her profession upon St Ursula's day, at the age of
twenty-seven years.

The same year, 1618, upon the i ith of November, were
professed together two nuns ; Sister Dorothy Lawson,
daughter to Roger Lawson of Bourch (Brougji) in York-
shire, Esquire, who, living some time a schismatic, was
reconciled a good time before his death, and died happily.
He enjoyed not his estate, by reason that his father, a
knight, lived longer than he. So this his daughter, Dorothy,
was bestowed (provided for) by her grandmother, her
mother's mother, the Lady Constable, sister to the Duchess
of Feria that married the Duke of Feria in Queen Mary's
time, and went with him into Spain. The Lady Constable,
seeing her daughter Lawson to have many children, was

190 CHKONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

willing herself to bestow some one of them to religion ;
therefore asking this, her grandchild, if she had any mind
thereto and she answering that she had, they procured
means to send her over into St Augustine's Order, because
that her father was very devout unto this Saint, and at his
death desired one of his children might be of his Order ; so
she was admitted at the age of sixteen, and made her
profession about eighteen years old.

Sister Susan Brooke was daughter to Robert Brooke,
of good house but a younger brother, the last of ten or
twelve children, wherefore, being a courtier and no Catholic,
he sought to raise his fortune by some rich marriage, and
marking that Alderman Prannel (of London) had but two
daughters, which were the heirs of all this great wealth, he
resolved to see if he could get the goodwill of the eldest.
Of whom, being yet a child in the cradle when he came to
the house, he said that perhaps that child should be his
wife. When, therefore, she was come to fit years he won
her consent by means of the servants, feeing them well to
procure her liking towards him, which indeed they did, so
that she married him secretly without the consent of her
parents, who, when they understood of it, were much
disgusted against her, and she perceiving it, took such
grief that she miscarried of her first child. She seemed
dead, until one of the physicians recovered her, the rest
laughing at him saying that he wished to bring life unto a
dead stock. Notwithstanding it was God's will and He
indeed helped her, which was happier for her soul, she
beinof then no Catholic. She recovered so well that she
had twenty children, and before the birth of her fifth, it
pleased the Divine goodness to bring her into the Catholic
religion after a miraculous manner.

Sitting up once upon a pallet while the maid was
making the bed, and her own sister in the room, who would
needs help the maid to stir the bed (which it seems God
ordained that there might be two witnesses of this), she
helping the wench, as is said ; after the bed was well beaten

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 191

and stirred and the bolster laid, her sister went down for
some occasion, whereupon Mrs Brooke finding herself
pretty well, drew near the bed to help her maid, and taking
up the bolster to lay the sheet over it, she found a book
lying under the bolster. Whereupon wonderino- much,
she asked of the wench, as also of her sister when she came
up, if they had laid it there ; who both affirmed they had
not, neither had seen any book there a little before, when
they laid on the bolster. She then looked into the book,
and found that it was a Catholic one, whereof she was
very glad, for she had a long time desired to know some-
thing of that religion, hearing so much talk of Papists and
Recusants, and longed to understand the manner of their
observances, but could never have her desire satisfied
herein until now that Almighty God provided her of means,
for in this book, which it seems was of controversy, she
found all heretical objections so clearly confuted, and
Catholic religion so manifestly proved in all points, that
she fully resolved to become a Catholic, seeing it was the
true faith, and no other means to be saved but by it.
After this she sought acquaintance with Catholics, so came
to be reconciled, and got her husband's goodwill that she
might live according to her conscience, as also prevailed so
far with him, that he permitted her to bring up all her
daughters accordingly, but the sons he would have of his
bringing up. She suffered once molestation with her own
father, who would fain have had her husband to compel her
to go to church, but yet himself was reconciled half a year
before he died. It happened after her father's death, that
her mother brought her into a room where she showed her
so long a table as ten or twelve persons might sit on one
side of it, all which was set with plate of silver and golden
goblets, cups, salt-cellars, dishes, and other things, as also
between the same were laid many silver spoons, and she
said to her: "See, daughter, all these shall be thine, and
thy sister's ; " who with amazement blessed herself secretly,
and desired God to deliver her from delighting in it, for she

192 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

thought it was a great temptation. This prayer it seems
was well heard, for from that time off she never saw any
more of the plate, and she never had any piece thereof.
Once at Whitsuntide, those of her house looking forth,*
espied in the air a fine white cross, like unto Charing
Cross, made just in that fashion with steps, which hung
right over their mistress's chamber, low down from the
skies, and continued so for about an hour, until they all
had seen it. After that her husband, Mr Brooke, fell
extremely sick, and became a Catholic, so this was indeed
a white cross to him and a happy one, for he recovered
again and remained a Catholic about seven years, even to
his death.

It happened once that she had taken physic, and it
was antimony, and it seems did not moderate it as she
should have done, whereupon it wrought so violently that
she was almost brought to death's door, and no physician
being near to help, the neighbours were called in. She
seeing herself in such a distress, made a promise unto the
Saint of that day, although she knew not then what Saint
it was, that if by his intercession she recovered out of that
danofer, she would ever after be devout unto him. No
sooner had she made this vow, but her violent working
ceased, and she became well in perfect health. Then look-
ino- into the Calendar of her book she found that it was
St Augustine's day, the glorious Doctor of the Church ;
so she ever after bore great devotion unto him. This her
daughter Susan, being the tenth child, our Lord ordained
should be of his Order by the means which we will now
show. She was always from her infancy devout and much
given to her prayers ; especially after she came to be of fit
years to receive the Blessed Sacrament she gave herself
wholly to God, to live in that state which should be most
pleasing unto Him and according to His will, whatever it
were ; leaving the care unto God to ordain means accord-
ingly. It happened, therefore, that having a sister of hers
married unto a rich merchant, one Mr Ivens, and she

CHKONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 193

living with her husband at Brussels, knowing this cloister,
because she happened to be here at Sister Winifred
Blundell's profession ; she liked very well our monastery,
esteeming that we were true simple religious, such as
spiritual people ought to be. She also had a great mind
to place some of her sisters in religious houses, as havino-
so many. Therefore, she sent for this, her sister Susan, to
come over to her, thinking that because she was so given
to her prayers, she would do well in religion. When this
latter came into England she was content to go, although
as yet not resolved for religion, but to do God's will ; and
taking this occasion as ordained by Him, she thought
perhaps that when she came over she might get a mind to
some religious order. So she came to shipping accom-
panied only with her sister's maid, and it chanced that they
were both taken and sent into prison to Newgate, where
she remained with the priests their prisoner almost a whole
year, taking it as from the hand of God ; which indeed
happened well both for her soul and body, by reason that
she lived there a virtuous recollected life, and suffered
divers molestations for her conscience which would be too
long to rehearse here. And also her corporal health was
amended, for being, as the doctors say, entered into a
dropsy, the best remedy for her was to eat little and drink
nothing but some hot thing, as wine or the like, both which
she had good occasion to do there in prison, by reason
that the fare was so short as that commonly they had at
night but two shoulders of mutton among twenty-six
persons, and at dinner two legs of mutton, they being all
men besides herself and one woman ; but what she wanted
in meat was amended by the goodness of drink, for the
Catholics coming to see the prisoners would often give
them wine, so that she drank almost nothing else, because
the beer was so bad she could not drink it, which helped
her disease. So that at length her friends procured her
delivery out of prison, after so long a time as is said.

There happened another occasion, which showed plain

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194 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

that her calling was to religion, therefore she came now
the second time and had good speed, bringing also with
her a gentlewoman named Frances Kemp, daughter unto
a rich widow, that her eldest brother, Sir Robert Brooke,
had married, of whom we shall speak more hereafter.
This poor woman was sent over by her mother to be
placed in some monastery to see if she would get a liking
to religious life. So they arrived both at Brussels and
lived some weeks there with her sister Ivens, she being
still unresolved what Order to choose, for although she
would of her own fervour have chosen the straitest Order,
as that of the Poor Clares, yet she still left herself to the
providence of God, where, at what place, and in what
time He should ordain ; and it happened that her sister
was thinking of placing the foresaid Frances Kemp here
at Louvain, although she was not of years to become a
religious, by reason that their father dying, had ordained
in his will, none of his daughters should have their portion
till they were twenty-one years of age. Mr Ivens then
came to this town, to get Mistress (Miss) Kemp a place
here. Then went she to our Blessed Lady of Sichem and
there asked her sister Susan, who also went with her,
whether she was content to enter into our cloister, and
she would speak for her. She answered that she was
indifferent unto any place ; therefore let her do as she
would, and she would take it for God's will. Mrs Ivens
and she coming both back again from Sichem, she spoke
to have her sister enter here, and her husband promised to
give her a portion for his wife's sake, so we took her in,
and she made her profession at the age of twenty-five
years.

In the year 1619, the 14th of April, were professed two
lay-sisters ; the first named Mary Thursby, daughter unto
Christopher Thursby of Buckenhal in Essex, no Catholic.
This his daughter, Mary, went from him about eleven or
twelve years of age to serve her aunt, Mrs Green, who was
a Catholic. Yet she lived with her about twelve years

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 195

before she came into the Church, and then continued to
live with her aunt for the space of twenty-four years, after
which time she was weary of her service, and therefore
desired her father to place her with some other Catholic,
for her father loved Catholics, though he were none him-
self, being so timorous that after his daughter was a
Catholic, he durst not lodge her any long time in his own
house, but provided her a place with the old Lady Huddle-
stone. There she stayed not long by reason that the
Lady was so fearful that priests came seldom to the house,
and she, having been at her aunt's used continually to
hear Mass and confer with priests, liked not this dry kind
of life. Therefore she spoke unto them to provide her of
some other place ; whereupon a good priest once asked
her if she had no mind to come over and be a religious.
She answered, she durst not think thereof, but only
desired to continue a true Catholic. He, notwithstanding,
hastened her herein, considering that she was weary of
service, and said this monastery at Louvain would be a
good place for her, whereupon she permitted him to write
here in her behalf But, God knows by what occasion,
the letters between him and us miscarried, so that at
length, meeting with Mistress Mary Ward, she got a
liking to the Jesuitesses' manner of life, and gave Mrs
Ward a fair golden cross that was her mother's for a
token, desiring her to take care of her ; who got her father
to assure her portion, which was ^300. After this the
English gentlewomen Jesuitesses took her to come over
with them, but by tempest were driven back. After
venturing again, and having been four days upon the sea,
they were driven back by a great tempest the second time,
and just at the time our Rev. Father Barnes's brother was
in England ready to come over within a day or two ; who,
understanding of her mischance at sea, was content to
take her over when he went. So she came over with him,
who brought her directly to our monastery, having so
speedy a passage this third time, that in one week she

196 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

passed from London to this house, and was admitted for a
lay-sister, although in years, in respect that she, having a
nun's portion, they should not require so much labour of
her, but to help in things as she was able. She made her
profession at the age of forty years.

Sister Elizabeth Wickham was by the mother's side
grandchild unto a glorious martyr, Richard Langley, an
Esquire in Yorkshire, who having four priests at once
found in his house, all notwithstanding escaped the
searchers' hands and he alone was apprehended. When
he came before the bench, they could not have condemned
him to death, by reason that although they suspected
those gentlemen which escaped to be priests, yet they
could not prove it. Notwithstanding, they took advantage
of his fervent words ; only because he said that although
they had been priests he would have received them, and so
maliciously were they bent at that time in Queen Eliza-
beth's reign, that only for these words they put him to
death. Whose daughter, mother to our Elizabeth, threw
herself away in marriage upon Martin Wickham, a yeoman,
who was no Catholic ; wherefore Mistress Langley, her
mother's sister, who was living at Antwerp, an old maid,
sent for two of her nieces to serve her. Whereupon this
Elizabeth came over seas with one sister of hers, being
about twelve years old, and lived with her aunt three or
four years until she died ; who left her at her death ^40,
if she would be a religious, but she had no mind to it
yet. At length, because all told her that if she went into
England she was in great danger to become a heretic ; she
then got some to speak for her to be admitted here a
lay-sister, and made her profession with Sister Mary
Thursby at the age of eighteen years.

In 1619 were professed two nuns. Sister Perpetua Best
and Sister Frances Standford, of which latter we omit to
speak here, referring it to their own Chronicle, for she was
sent to Bruges when the others went, and made their
Prioress. Sister Perpetua Best was sister to Mary Best,

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 197

of whom we have made some little mention before, being
also of the company sent to Bruges, but this her sister
stayed here. They were daughters of a Catholic o-ende-
man in Yorkshire, and sending over his daughter Mary,
very young, to live in these parts to learn (the) language,
she after some years went over again to her father and
fetched away her sister, Perpetua, and came over again to
be a religious, and her sister having lived some time at
Antwerp afterwards entered here.

This same year, 1619, upon i6th of July, died our
old friend, Mr Worthington, very happily, whom our Lord
did honour at his death, for there appeared plainly in his
forehead a red cross, and upon his back and shoulders were
to be seen marks of blows, which doubtless betokened those
which in his youth he had suffered for the Catholic religion.
The red cross also, as we may suppose, signifies how that
he had carried the cross of persecution all his life, living
for so many years in voluntary banishment for the safety
of his conscience. He desired to be buried within our
monastery among our sisters, the which was granted him,
having been so dear a friend and faithful a helper in the
setting up of this house, and therefore lies buried in our
cloister near unto his wife's mother, Mrs Allen, who was
laid here.

This year, 1619, we enlarged our refectory, taking unto
it the great hall adjoining, and made also a cellar under it
that it might be raised up to the former refectory.

In the year 1620, on the 3rd of August, was professed
Sister Teresa Goulding, daughter unto Edward Goulding
of Coutston Basset in Nottinghamshire, and her mother
was daughter of Mr Godfrey, the famous Catholic lawyer,
unto whom was offered to make him Lord Chief- Justice of
England if he would have gone to church, but he refused
it, as esteeming more the good of his soul than fading
temporal honour, but for all this refusal of his they gave
him the freedom of his conscience during his life. So he
gained even then a greater good than he forsook.

198 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

His daughter, Goulding, died when her children were
but young, wherefore this her daughter, named then Bridget,
was until the age of eight years brought up with a Catholic
woman that lived here and there, sometimes with Pro-
testants, sometimes with Catholics. But at the age of
thirteen years, living among heretics, she remembered that
she once heard her father say there was but one way
to be saved ; thereupon she began to be troubled, seeing
such difference of religions, and prayed earnestly unto
God with tears that if she were not in the right, He
would bring her to it. Our Lord heard her prayer, for
soon after her grandmother by the father's side, sent for
her to come and live with her, who was a Catholic. But
yet seeing her so young and wild, she durst not trust her
to come unto priests ; wherefore our Lord Himself took
care of her, and ordained that once, upon the report of
pursuivants coming, her father gave her two books to hide,
which she supposing to be of religion, was curious to look
into, and they being of controversy, she found there those
doubts cleared which detained her from being a Catholic ;
and hereupon spoke to an old blind woman in the house
about this matter. She having tried her, and seeing her
so much desire to become a Catholic, helped her unto a
priest, and so she came into the Church, even before her
grandmother knew it.

After this a sister of hers coming over to be a religious,
her father, to see if she had any mind thereto, counterfeited
a letter from her sister, persuading her unto the like
course ; which indeed moved her much, but she dissembled
it and told her father she had no mind. Yet, notwith-
standing, after this reading in books that religion was the
happiest state of all others, she was inwardly drawn by
God thereunto, but nature repined to undergo the austerity
which she apprehended was in that life. Yet at length
discoursing unto priests her thoughts, they answered her
she had a true calling thereunto. Whereupon it happened
that after some time one Mr Landen and his wife, being

i

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 199

of their acquaintance, were to come over ; so she got her
father's goodwill to come with them. And being on this
side the seas, she met with the Lady Lovel who was then
about to set up the cloister of English Teresians, and had
like to have joined with her, but that it was not God's
will, for having expected about half a year for that erection,
and seeing it not effected, she desired to be here, and was
admitted, finding great contentment in this Order. She
made her profession now at the age of twenty-one, chang-
ing" her name to Teresa, for her old devotion to St Teresa,
but saw afterwards plainly that God would have her to be
of this Order.

The same year, 1620, was professed Ann Mortimer,
lay-sister, daughter to George Mortimer, and her mother
was cousin to Mr Swithin Wells the martyr, but neither
she nor her husband were Catholics, nor their children,
except this daughter, Ann, whom at her death she gave
unto her sister to take her as her own, which she did, at
the age of five years. With this aunt she dwelt so long as
she lived, who was a good Catholic, but her husband a
heretic and a most fierce man. Her niece was fifteen years
before she became a Catholic, and when she first com-
municated, her aunt gave her to our Blessed Lady, who
indeed took care of her, as the event showed. Her uncle
being a hasty man, her aunt durst get priests into the
house but seldom, so that the young maid was sometimes
half a year before she could frequent the Sacraments, and
when a priest came to the house, sometimes she had not
time nor opportunity to hear Mass, but as she was dressing
the meat was called up to communicate, and soon after she
had received came down again to the household work.
Nevertheless, our Lord assisted her so well in these hard
shifts concerning her soul's good, that she lived well and
had a desire to be a religious if she could get means. Her
uncle, fearing sometimes he should be made to pay for her
not going to church, would be so out of tune that she was
fain to hide herself in the barn when any trouble was.

200 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

Her aunt, being so good, prayed heartily to God for her
froward husband, so that at length, like another St Monica,
she won him to God. He was reconciled to the Church,
and our Lord sent him after that a grievous sickness, which
he bore for his sins very patiently, and died happily with
great repentance.

Our Ann continued to live with her aunt until she died.
She after that desired to come over with Mr Cape, who
came to live at St Omer's, and had promised her aunt to
bring her over seas and take care of her, but he was
so timorous that for fear of danger he durst not bring her
over. But Almighty God took it in hand Himself, and
moved Mr Cape to have a scruple so to leave her, having
been recommended unto him by her aunt, as also wanting
himself an English servant at St Omer's, he thought fit to
take her. Wherefore having occasion of coming again into
England, he got a pass for a maidservant to come over
with him, and then went a hundred miles' journey to fetch
her, who was very glad to come. But yet she lived some
time at St Omer's with him before she entered religion ; at
length Mr Fortescue obtained her a place in our cloister.
So she made her profession at the age of thirty-four
years.

In the year 162 1 were professed two sisters, the eldest
named Bridget Gifford and the younger Ann, daughters
to Walter Gifford of Chillington, in Staffordshire, Esquire,
whose father was a most constant Catholic, and all his
house. Queen Elizabeth coming one time that way in
progress, took his house to lodge in, being a very fair one.
Wherefore he then removed into another house to give the
Court place, but came to visit her Majesty, who used him
kindly and called him "Gentle Gifford," yet she was not
gone from the house about four miles, but he was sent for
to come to London, and there committed to prison for his
conscience. It seems someone had spoken against him to
the Queen for having so great a house and being a
Catholic. Nevertheless, Almighty God assisted him so

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CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 201

that he found means to be released again, and, compound-
ing" for his conscience, did not lose his land or livinor. His
son was not so constant as he, but condescended to the
time awhile, yet maintained a priest in the house and
assisted all the Catholics thereabout with spiritual help,
and when their beasts were to be seized on for their
conscience, all his ground was filled with them, to be saved
till the officers departed. His wife and children were
Catholics, and himself so in heart ; as also at length he
was reconciled and liveth at present a good Catholic.

These two daughters of his being come to years, the
elder was, by interchange of devout moods and fits of
vanity, tried which of both should at last get the mastery
of her, and our Lord loved her so dearly, having- chosen
her for His singular beloved spouse, that she at last broke
off violently and heroically with the world and marriage,
although she was far ensnared therein. She now resolved

o

to be a religious, as also got her parents' consent thereto,
and coming home from London, and from following of
vanities and worldly pleasures, she found her sister, Ann,
grown very pious and godly ; who understanding what she
intended, began also to get a mind to religion. But yet
she would not disclose her mind then, lest any might
think she desired to go for her sister's sake, wherefore she
let her sister depart, but agreed with her what to do. In
the meantime she asked of their priest whether he thought
her vocation was good. He answered her it was right,
and that she ought to follow it. Wherefore she disclosed
her mind to her father and desired his consent, who
answered her short, that she should think well upon it.
Afterwards, he coming to London, her sister, Bridget, did
as was agreed upon between them, counterfeiting letters to
him from her, who yet did not send for her, but said he
would speak with her himself; which indeed he did on
coming home and had a long speech with this his daughter,
saying that if God called her, he would in no wise hinder
her, but if there were any other intention in it than purely

202 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

for God, he liked it not, and gave her very substantial
counsel, which showed what goodness was in him.

So then she affirming her intention was right, he gave
his consent she should go, as also her mother, although
she loved her dearly and wept at her parting. So they
sent her to London to her sister, who was to go over with
the Ambassador ; and to see what God will have shall be,
it was a great wonder she was not gone before her arrival,
for that very day the Ambassador departed and by a
strange chance she was left behind. It seems our Lord
would have her stay for her sister. So then, seeing their
passage failed, and they had no pass to come over, their
brother met them there in good time, who having been in
these parts, was content for their sakes to go again. And
so they took courage and ventured to go, although they
had no pass to save them from danger ; but Almighty God
ordained of His goodness, that they never came into any
trouble, but passed very quietly. Coming to Brussels, Mr
Suthcoat (Southcote), a friend of their father's, had written
a letter for the eldest to be received at St Benedict's, and
it happened that they came just to see a clothing there of
Mr Bentley's daughter. Which, when the eldest daughter
had seen, she affirmed she would not enter there. The
Abbess asked the younger if she would come in her place.
She answered simply, yea ; but begged not the place. The
Abbess then desired her to come again next morning, and
said she would take order for her to go to the Spa, because
she was sickly. But it was not God's will that she should
enter in there, for the next morning it did rain so extremely,
that there was no going to the monastery, and about noon
her sister was to come here to Louvain, for she would see
this place, if it liked (pleased) her. She, therefore, went
with her, and they coming here both of them, liked this
place so well that there was no going back, but they
entered in very willingly and joyfully and made their
profession, the eldest about twenty-four years of age and
the younger twenty-three.

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 203

The same year, 162 1, upon the 6th of July, being then
Trinity Sunday, was professed Sister EHzabeth Lovel,
niece to the Lady Lovel, who lived in these parts with her
grandmother, Lady Cross, of whom we omit to speak
further, because she was of those that were sent to Bruges,
referring it to their own Chronicle.

The same year (1621) were professed two nuns, the
one. Lady Babthorpe, widow of Sir Ralph Babthorpe, and
the other her own grandchild, Frances Babthorpe, who
had lived in the cloister from the age of thirteen years, and
now made profession with her grandmother, who came in
after her, and they were also clothed together. At whose
clothing and profession her own son. Father Ralph Bab-
thorpe of the Society of Jesus, preached, and a daughter
was also present, who came here to these solemnities of
her mother. But to speak in particular of them both :
first, the Lady Babthorpe, now named Sister Grace Bab-
thorpe, was a daughter of William Birnand of Brimmon in
Yorkshire, Esquire ; her mother, daughter of Sir William
Ingleby, whose grandfather by the mother's side, Sir
William Mallerie (Mallory) was so zealous and constant a
Catholic that when heresy first came into England, and
Catholic service was commanded to be put down on such
a day, he came to the church, and stood there with his
sword drawn to defend that none should come in to abolish
religion, saying that he would defend it with his life, and
continued for some days, keeping out the officers so long
as he could possibly do it. Thus much concerning her
great-grandfather. Her mother died at her birth, and had
no more children, so that she was heir of all her father's estate,
who, although he was a younger brother, yet had gotten
together a fair estate. She, therefore, was brought up with
her grandmother, the Lady Ingleby, a good Catholic, and
married at fifteen years of age (as heirs commonly are
married young), unto Sir William Babthorpe's eldest
son, they both being in equal degree of ancient knights'
houses. This her husband was also afterwards knighted ;

204 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

named Sir Ralph Babthorpe of Babthorpe, in Yorkshire,
some ten miles from the city of York. After their marriage,
both being very young, he was sent by his father awhile
into the Inns of Court, so that for some years to avoid
trouble he went to church, only so little as might be ; but
she continuing ever a constant Catholic, it happened that
Lord Huntingdon came to Yorkshire, being a most rank
heretic, and made then President of York, who had
promised Queen Elizabeth that he would make all the
Papists go to their church, if she would let him alone.
Whereupon he was permitted to do what he would, and so
began to rage against Catholics like a furious lion ; but
yet Almighty God made his servants strong enough to
cope with him. This President would also compel men's
wives to go to church, and therefore sent forth a command-
ment that all who had Catholic wives should bring them
before him against such a day, so as men upon pain of
being contemners of the State were forced to bring their
wives forth, among whom this worthy woman was one.
The Lord President first examined her apart, and asked
her when she had gone to church. She answered him,
never. He demanded then, how many Masses she had
heard. She answered, so many that she could not reckon
them. At this he began to stamp. He, lastly, seeing her
so constant, made her the next day appear before the whole
Council Table at York, where himself and their Bishop
were chief, and seeing her to stand firm, they thought to
try all means possible. Wherefore she was committed
unto a lawyer's house in York, a most hot Puritan, and
others also in divers houses, where they brought almost
daily ministers and others to persuade her, as also even at
table eating with them, she could not be quiet from hearing
their blasphemies against the Catholic Faith. Having
endured this for a fortnight, seeing they prevailed nothing,
the Lord President committed six of the best sort to
prison in an old castle of the Queen's, where they were not
permitted to come together nor converse with each other,

CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 205

nor yet to have any Catholic servants, but the maids that
served them must be seen twice in the week to be present
at the heretical service which was said in the castle.
Besides that, their living there was very chargeable, for
they paid a great deal to the keepers for attendance, as
they called it, which was for their continual watch over
them not to come into each other's company, and the
keeper was a most hot Puritan, as also one of his servants,
inflexible, but the other, who was porter, they could move
for money.

In this strait prison they continued for almost two
years, yea, the President intended never to have released
them unless they yielded, sending every now and then
ministers to dispute with them. Their names were these :
first, the Lady Constable, of whom we have spoken before,
being Sister Dorothy Lawson's grandmother ; Mrs
Babthorpe, Mrs Ingleby, Mrs Mettam, Mrs Lawson ; all
these gentlewomen became afterwards ladies, their husbands
being knighted. They were kept so close in prison that
besides their separation from each other they were every
night locked up in their chambers, in such wise that if any
sudden sickness or other accident had happened they might
have died there without help, for they were so far from the
keepers that they could not have heard though they called
never so loud, and to help one another was not possible,
because they were all locked up asunder. Yet, notwith-
standing. Almighty God of His goodness preserved them
there all the time that they endured this usage for His love.
Mrs Lawson, being with child when they took her, the
Lord President, fearing she might die in prison in child-
birth, and he be blamed of cruelty, determined notwith-
standing she should not go home by any means, but
thought to have placed her in some heretic's house. Yet
his design was crossed herein, for she became so very ill
with the stir of her committing to prison, that there was
no changing her out of that place, and so she was brought
to bed in prison, yet would they not permit the other

206 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

Catholic gentlewomen to come unto her except at the time
she was in labour, being indeed in great distress and
remaining very ill afterwards. The others had then only
a little more liberty than ordinary to come unto her. But
to go on with our courageous matron. She would not
confer with ministers, saying she was sure enough of her
faith, for when they be content to confer with them, they
take it as though they doubted. Wherefore she wisely
said that she came not there to dispute about her faith
but to profess it. Then they told her how others would
confer (which perhaps they did but to move her to it).
She answered that it was nothing to her what others did,
because she should answer but for herself. Nevertheless
sometimes without show of disputation she would hit the
ministers home, and put them to silence in their objections ;
as once she showed unto one of them plainly how that our
religion hath all the signs of the true Church, which theirs
hath not, and he not knowing how to disprove it, said he
would come again and bring with him in writing how their
religion had the true signs, but he never came forth with
them, for it was only a copy of his countenance. Here in
this place was also prisoner at that time Lady Constable,
grandmother to Sister Dorothy Lawson, and although they
were kept so strictly from each other, yet, notwithstanding,
they had a hundred tricks and devices to cozen the keeper,
which would be too long to set down here. Only thus
much we cannot omit that once having espied how the
Lady Constable and Lady Babthorpe were gotten together,
he was in fury at them both, and said he was bound in
;!^400 they should not speak with each other. But our
courageous woman replied to him, that he was very simple
to bind himself in such a manner, " For," said she, "a man
hath enough to do to keep one woman, and would you
undertake to keep and rule six women ? " He said then
he would break the bar of her door, for she had put a bar
on the inside, that the keepers should not come into her
chamber when they would, and she answered that if he did,

CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 207

she would appeal to be no more under his keepino-, " For,"
said she, " I stand upon my honour to answer to my
husband that no man shall have freedom to come into mv
chamber."

Indeed Lady Babthorpe had good reason to keep them
out of her chamber, considering what devices she made for
the help of her soul, for, having a maid whom she durst
trust, she writ letters in such wise that she got a priest to
come to a grate (grated) window of a low room, which
looked forth out of the castle into a park, and there she
went to confession and communicated, as also sometimes
helped the Lady Constable there, but he (the priest) was
fain always to come in the night, for by day the keeper
often walked thereabout. Yet not content with this, she
invented a means how to get the priest in ; for, taking a
chisel and a hammer, and getting some to play at shuttle-
cock, that they might not hear her at such time as she cut
the freestone of the window on the inside, where the bars
of the grate went in, so long time till she could take in the
whole window, she let in the priest ; and when he was
gone she put up the grate again and nothing was seen on
the outside. She might well have broken prison herself,
but she thought she should be then sent again ; therefore
she took it for the best way to make rather her present
profit thereof, for by this means she could keep a priest a
whole day within, and assisted also the others with spiritual
help. But to omit other good shifts, at last their husbands
got them released, being kept so close that even they
themselves might not come to see their wives without
either the Lord President's or the Bishop's hand with two
others. Wherefore they procured some ladies of the Court
to tell the Queen how a lady and other gentlewomen were
shut up in an old castle ; child-bearing women that had
house and family to govern ; who humbly besought her
Majesty for freedom. By this means they obtained a grant
for their release signed with six of the Privy Council's
hands. But here came yet another ill chance, if Almighty

208 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

God had not assisted anew, for the man that was sent
down with this licence had himself a suit before the said
Lord President ; wherefore not daring to disgust him any-
way, went and let him understand of all this, and gave him
time to cross it ; who presently taking it for a disgrace
that they should be freed without his consent, sent up to
London to have this grant disannulled, but could not
prevail. For the ladies, who had been bribed, stood hard
to have them released ; wherefore it was agreed that he
should have the title of doing it, and so they were to be
let forth as by his permission, although it was full sore
against his will ; who for all that ordained they should
upon ten days' warning be ready to go again to prison
when he should please, and in this manner set them free.
Yet, notwithstanding, all the rest being got loose, our
courageous woman (Lady Babthorpe) was still detained
because of her great zeal, and for that she would not
permit a little daughter of hers, who lived with her in
prison, to go unto their service or prayers, and also her
maids had still some excuse or other not to be present ;
because indeed she commonly had such a maid there as
was well minded, so that she could trust her in the foresaid
shifts of her contrivance. But now to go on ; seeing that
she alone was kept still in prison, her husband sued for
her, and desired that since their fault was alike, she might
not be used worse than the rest. Whereupon she was
made to come before the Bishop, and her husband desired
her to give him good words that she might get freedom,
which she promised to do, and indeed called the Bishop
when she spake to him, " Lordship," much against her will.
He, having rated her for awhile for her constancy, bade her
at length go away, saying he would tell her husband what
should become of her, for she deserved not to know, and
so released her, having stayed a fortnight longer than the
others. After this she should have gone to prison again
once or twice, but that she was still with child and so
escaped. A good time after these turmoils, when her

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 209

eldest son was married, she got her husband to become a
good Catholic, inducing him first by a book which showed
plainly how there was no salvation out of the Catholic
Church, and then the Resolution adjoined to this. By the
reading of which two books he fully resolved to become a
Catholic, and was reconciled to the Church before Queen
Elizabeth died.

Afterwards when King James came in, there was great
hope that he would be good to Catholics, wherefore many
did give up their names to him when he demanded it,
among whom Sir Ralph Babthorpe did the same, and
thereupon began also to taste the cup of persecution, as
well as his wife had done long before. For when he once
had professed the Catholic religion, there was no more
living for him at home, but he was fain to go into Lincoln-
shire, where his son was married, and if sometimes he came
home, he should find bills set upon his door to summon
him to appear, and then was fain to depart again in haste.
When they saw this way prevailed not to catch him, they
would read the said bill of warrant openly in the church,
and money was offered unto whosoever could take him and
bring him before them. So that always someone of the
house was fain to go and swear he was not at home, and
therefore could not incur any penalty by the said warrant.
Wherefore if he chanced at any time to come home for one
night, he was forced in the morning betimes to get away,
that the foresaid persons who were to take the oath might
swear truly ; and once, when the great frost was in King
James's days, he was in danger of drowning upon the way,
being on a great river which is to pass between these two
mentioned shires, but our Lord preserved him to merit
more. Being, therefore, thus continually molested, they
determined to leave their house in Yorkshire, and so came
both to live in London, where also they narrowly escaped
a great trouble. For one morning betimes, came two
pursuivants into their lodging, Sir Ralph not being at
home, and said they came to hear Mass with them ; which,

o

210 CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

so soon as the Lady Babthorpe heard, she bade her maid
to shut the door, for she had a priest at the time there,
who would have hidden himself ; but she said it would be
worse if they found him out, for then they should know that
he was a priest. Therefore she wished him to remain with
her publicly, and let her find an excuse. So, in they came,
and she said that the priest was her servant and affirmed
they would do her an ill turn if they took him away, for he
was going to the doctor for her daughter, who indeed was
then sick.

They would not believe her, but had him away with
them, which she perceiving, got one man who was a good
shifter in such cases, to see if he could wring the priest by
some trick from the pursuivants. He went and met with
them, had them away with him to the tavern, and used the
matter so, that he got means for the priest to escape out of
their hands, and thus our Lord delivered them from that
great danger. Afterwards they began to come into trouble
about the oath of allegiance, for all the Catholics of the
shire were summoned to appear within such a time to take
the said oath. Upon this. Sir Ralph, determined to come
over seas that he might end his days quietly here.

So he procured a licence without date to come over
unto the Spa for his health, having indeed had a great
fit of sickness some time before, and the doctors affirmed
that it was needful for his health to come over ; so he came
thus with his wife and they brought with them their eldest
son's daughter, of whom we shall soon speak more, whom
she left at St Omer's and came herself to live in this town
in the year 1613. Here she remained with her husband,
Sir Ralph, till at length she had occasion to go into England
to look after their temporal means ; and in the meantime
Sir Ralph Babthorpe died very blessedly in this town at a
happy time, being taken sick the last day that he came out
of the spiritual exercises, and it seems our Lord thereby
prepared him for the next life. When, therefore, this worthy
lady heard in England of her husband's death, she presently

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 211

determined to put her design in execution, remembering
that from her young days she found in herself that once she
must do something for God, which in later years she plainly
felt was to enter religion, and, therefore, if her husband
would have consented she had done it in his lifetime, but
he being sickly could not well spare her kind looking to
him.

Wherefore now she made no more ado, and provided
herself of temporal means for this purpose. But she passed
no small difficulties to bring the same unto effect, for her
friends and priests would fain have persuaded her to stay
still in the world, as thinking she might do much good
there, yet she stood so constant that her vocation was to
religion, as that at length all were fain to yield. Wherefore
having gathered together sufficient means, she came over
seas again unto this town, and desired very earnestly to
enter in with us, bringing also with her a young grandchild
of hers, named Grace Constable, of whom we shall speak
■more in due place. So then, we receiving her, she was
professed, being of the age of about fifty years, having had
nine children, one of whom was a priest and Benedictine,
who suffered imprisonment and other troubles, and two
other younger priests of the Society of Jesus. Two
daughters of hers were married in England, some of whose
children came to religion, and her daughter, Barbara, had
been at St Benedict's at Brussels, but could not go forward
for a defect in her throat, so she lived afterwards among
the Jesuitesses.

Thus did this worthy woman, who had so constantly
served God all her life, give herself in her old days wholly
-unto God, taking Him for her spouse, whom she had
desired so long before, and was to her now, Electus ex
Millibus, chosen out most wisely above thousands, having
also the joy to see her beloved husband so happily to end
his days, and go before her to that glory whereunto she
after desired to arrive with the greatest perfection she
could ; seeking to please God by the blessed state of

212 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

obedience, holy poverty, and continency. But to speak
also of her grandchild, Sister Frances Babthorpe : she was
the daughter of Sir William Babthorpe, Sir Ralph's eldest
son, a most constant Catholic, who also suffered very much
for his faith, and even when he was a boy sent to school,,
could never be induced to go to church, though he were
ever so much urged thereunto. Coming to years, he
married the daughter of William Tirret (Tyrwhitt) of
Kettelby, in Lincolnshire, Esquire, who was so devout a
Catholic that when his father. Sir Robert Tirrett, died,
who had began to build a fair house upon ground that was
abbey land, he made that which was begun of the building
to be left unfinished, saying he would leave it against a
Catholic time, that religious might again live therein, and
make the building a monastery. But to return to Sir
William Babthorpe.

He came at length into great trouble for his zeal in
defence of religion by reason that having two priests found
in his house, he would have agreed with the pursuivants
for money to let them go, but when he saw that by no fair
means they would do it, he determined by force to rescue
them out of their hands. Wherefore, being a tall strong
man, he made no more ado, but drew out his sword, and
made the priests to depart away, keeping the pursuivants
the while in such fear with his naked sword, that none of
them durst to resist him. But afterwards they complained
to the Justice, and it was esteemed a great contempt so to
resist these vile officers ; wherefore he was fined to pay such
a sum of money as brought him to great poverty, besides
imprisonment almost a whole year. So he was fain to come
over seas, and lived here a long time only in the place of a
common soldier, enduring the want and miseries of such a
needy life, until, at length. Almighty God respected the
humility of His servant, and ordained that he got a captain's
place. Divers of his children have entered in to religion, of
whom this his daughter, Frances, was the eldest, who came
over with her grandmother, being a child, and lived at St

CHKONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 213

Omer's with the Jesuitesses ; until, being very sickly there,
and also not liking their kind of life, her grandmother sent
for her to live with her in this town. Who, so soon as she
saw our monastery, had such a desire to enter in, that her
_grandmother could have no rest with her unless she placed
her here. So that we seeing her so earnestly to desire it,
although she was very young, admitted her till she should
be of fit age to be clothed. Wherefore after that, her
grandmother entering here upon the decease of her husband,
they were both professed together, showing the wonderful
work of God in joining one so aged with one so young, to
serve Him in holy religion (for she was but seventeen), so
that senes cum junioribus, young and old together, we do
praise our Lord.

PREFACE TO CHAPTER THE SIXTH

The Cloptons and Shakespeare's Country. Baron Carew of Clopton.
The ancient homes of the Fortescues in South Devon. Blessed Adrian
Fortescue and his descendants. The Plowdens of Plowden. Edmund
Plowden. The Constables of Flamborough and Everingham. The
Lords Herries. Abbess Constable, O.S.B. In the Church of Evering-
ham, 15 th February 1904.

" There is a fine old house about a mile from Stratford-
on-Avon, Clopton, which in Shakespeare's time belonged tO'
the powerful Warwickshire and Suffolk family of the same
name, and with its deep brown-tiled roofs, lies low against
the gentle slopes of Welcombe and Snitterfield. Under
the carved stone arch of a fine old doorway Shakespeare
must have walked many a time with his friend, John
Coombe, who lived just over the brow of the hill at
Welcombe, and whose daughter married a Clopton. The
house, built round a narrow court, is full of queer corridors,
up-and-down steps, secret passages, and hiding-places. At
the top of one narrow staircase is a curious old Catholic
chapel in the roof, now turned into a bedroom.

'* In 1605 th^ house was tenanted by Ambrose Rookwood,.
one of the Gunpowder Plot conspirators, and when he was
arrested at Holbeach, his effects at Clopton were seized.
A copy of the list of goods, now in the Shakespeare
Museum at Stratford, describes silver-gilt chalices, cruci-
fixes, crosses of glass, vestments of white tissue, as the
goods of Ambrose Rookwood, lately attainted of high
treason.

"Clopton garden is a delightful place, with its smooth

214 o *

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 215

lawns, its splendid trees, its shrubberies that shelter
hundreds of singing-birds, its shady ponds, and above all,
its wallflowers. The air is laden with their scent. From
the top of the Welcombe Hill, behind Clopton House, the
view is a typical one of this placid old-world bit of England.
That Shakespeare loved this spot is one of the few things
that are known certainly about him. Many a time he
must have wandered up the path from Stratford, and looked
over the peaceful vale. More than likely as a boy he
bird-nested in the Welcombe woods, and listened to the
nightingales, as he walked over to Ingon meadow, his
father's farm. In 1614 he successfully resisted the en-
closing of Welcombe." — Shakespeare s Country, by Rose
Kingsley ; English Illustrated Magazine, February 1885.
Abridged.

At Clopton, rightly called by our chronicler the chief
house of the family, were born, probably about the same
date as Shakespeare himself, Joyce and Anne, daughters
and co-heiresses of William Clopton. Both were brought
up Protestants. Joyce married the celebrated Sir George
Carew, son of George Carew, a Protestant clergyman, of
the Carews of Mohun's Ottery in Devon, in which county
Sir George was born, probably at Exeter. He was made
by Elizabeth, Lord President of Munster ; by James I..
Baron Carew of Clopton; and by Charles I., Earl of Totnes,
and is buried in the parish church of Stratford-on-Avon.
Of his barbarous ferocity in Ireland, even Walsinghani
was forced to express his horror and detestation.

Anne married her cousin, William Clopton of Sledwick
in Durham. Our Chronicle tells much of their sufferings
after their conversion to the faith. In February 1604.
William Clopton surrendered the receivership of the
Bishopric of Durham and other places, and in 1607 " the
benefit of the recusancy of William Clopton " was made
over to Robert Walker and Richard Brass. They had
to drink the cup of suffering to the dregs, and were amply
rewarded in their descendants. Their son. Cuthbert, entered

216 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

the Society of Jesus, and, while acting as chaplain to the
Venetian Ambassador in 1641, was arrested and sentenced
to death for the faith, but saved through the ambassador's
intercession ; four daughters were professed together at St
Monica's ; and a fifth, Ursula, by her second marrage with
Henry Neville of Holt in Leicestershire, became the mother
of Dame Anne, Benedictine nun at Pontoise. She had
also three granddaughters among the Canonesses at
Bruges.

Many memorials of the ancient house of Clopton are to
be found at Long Melford in Suffolk, the earliest home of
the family, where they held the manor of Kentwell, and
were distinguished for piety and generosity to the Church.
Peter de Clopton was Prior of St Edmundsbury in the
beginning of the fourteenth century ; Walter de Clopton
was, in 1395, Chief- Justice of England ; and John Clopton,
an ardent Lancastrian, made his escape when the Earl of
Oxford and his other fellow-prisoners were beheaded on
the 22nd of February 1461. Kentwell Hall is distant
about a mile from Melford Church, which is a memorial
of the munificent piety of the Cloptons, especially of that
John Clopton who so nearly lost his life for the House of
Lancaster. The holy-water stoup, credence table, and
sedilia still remain in the Clopton chantry. Outside the
Lady Chapel may still be read the inscription asking
prayers for the souls of John, William, Alice, and Margery
Clopton, "and for all the souls that the said John is bound
to pray for." Father Bridgett has recorded from J. P.
Neale's Vieivs of Interesting Churches an account by
Roger Marton, who died in 1580, of the Palm Sunday
Procession at Long Melford Church as he had witnessed
it : " Upon Palm Sunday, the Blessed Sacrament was
carried in Procession about the churchyard under a fair
canopy borne by four yeomen. The Procession coming to
the church gate went westward, and they with the Blessed
Sacrament went eastward ; and when the Procession came
against the door of Mr Clopton's aisle, they, with the

CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 217

Blessed Sacrament, with a little bell and singing approached
at the east end of our Lady's Chapel ; at which time a bov
with a thing in his hand pointed to it, signifying a prophet,
as I think, and sang, standing up on the turret that is
upon the said Mr Clopton's aisle door : Ecce rex hius
venit, etc. And then all did kneel down, and then, rising
up went singing together into the church, and coming near
the porch, a boy or one of the clerks did cast over among
the boys flowers and singing cakes."

The Cloptons — the name used often to be spelt Clapton
— both in Warwickshire and Suffolk, have long passed
away, but the associations connected with them will not
easily let their memory perish. Sir William Clopton of
Kentwell left an only child, Anne, married to Sir Symonds
d'Ewes. Their daughter, Cecilia, married Sir Thomas
Darcy, Bart., and when Lady Darcy died without issue in
1 66 1, " the Cloptons' race was run."

For about a century longer, Cloptons were to be found
at Stratford. Sir Hugh Clopton, barrister, knighted by
George I., welcomed Garrick and his friends to Shake-
speare's New Place in May 1742. This house, built by
Sir Hugh Clopton, Lord Mayor of London in the reign of
Henry VH., had been purchased by Shakespeare and
remained in possession of the poet's descendants till
repurchased by the family after the Restoration. But
when the second Sir Hugh died in 1751, it was sold to
the Rev. Mr Gastrell, who pulled it down and sold the
materials.

Our chronicler next gives a striking story of the God-
wins of Wells, but without indicating the maiden name of
Sister Godwin's mother, the wife of James Godwin. Her
baptismal name was Matilda, and Mr Gillow, in his notice
of Father James Godwin, or Goodwin, brother to our
Canoness, suafSfests that she was a Middlemore. Father
Godwin laboured in the Exeter diocese from 1631 to 1651.
There was formerly a charity in Wells called "James
Godwin's gift." Thomas Godwin and his son Francis.

218 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S j

Protestant bishops respectively of Wells and Hereford,
were undoubtedly of the same family.

In that part of South Devon which lies between the
Yealm and the Dart, is an old farmhouse, within the
parish of Modbury, which was once the family mansion
and earliest English home of the illustrious house of
Fortescue, and bore the name of Wimpstone. Between
Totnes and Kingsbridge the Fortescues had several seats,
and memorials of the Fortescues may still be seen in the
church of Loddiswell, and elsewhere in that beautiful part
of England's fairest county. These have passed into other
hands, but Earl Fortescue still represents the ancient
house at his noble mansion of Castle Hill in North
Devon.

For us, the brightest glories of the house of Fortescue
are those which arise from the many and heroic examples
which it gave of Catholic faith and loyalty from the
day when Blessed Adrian Fortescue sealed his faith with
his blood. During several generations, daughters of the
house of Fortescue wore the Canoness's white robe in our
community, and so I propose to give in this chapter a
few brief notices on one branch of this illustrious family,
the Fortescues of Salden in Buckinghamshire. One word
on the earlier line will suffice. Richard le Fortescu, or
''strong shield," who is handed down in the family tradi-
tion as having saved the Conqueror's life at Hastings,
returned to Normandy, but his eldest son, Sir Adam, the
ancestor of the English Fortescues, obtained a grant of
Wimpstone in the parish of Modbury, a few miles south-
west of Totnes, and between the two Devonshire rivers
aforesaid, the Dart and the Yealm, there were Fortescues
at Preston, Spindlestone, Wood, Norreis, and Fallapit.
The family pedigree gives us twelve lords of Wimpstone,
whereof six bore the name of Adam, till, at the close of the l
fourteenth century, Sir John, a younger son of Sir William
Fortescue of Wimpstone, gives a wider celebrity to the
Fortescues of South Devon. Sir John of Meaux, as he is

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 219

called, fought at Agincourt, and was made Governor of
Meaux after its capture by the English in 1422. He
married Eleanor Norreis of Norreis, not far from Wimp-
stone. Their eldest son, Sir Henry, was Chief-Justice of
Ireland, and brought back with him to his Devonshire
home a large body of Irish retainers, whose descendants,
no doubt, are still there : their second, Sir John, was the
renowned Chief-Justice of England, and the direct ancestor
of Earl Fortescue of Castle Hill : the third son, Sir
Richard, who fell at the first battle of St Alban's, usually
called Sir Richard Fortescue of Punsborne, was the orand-
father of Blessed Adrian Fortescue, and the ancestor of
several of our Louvain nuns. His second son, Sir John,
married Alice Boleyn, sister of Thomas, Earl of Wiltshire,
the father of the unhappy Queen Anne Boleyn, who was
thus the martyr's first cousin. Willingly would we linger
on Blessed Adrian, but we are now concerned with his
descendants among the Sisters of St Monica's.

Sir Adrian Fortescue was beheaded on Tower Hill on
the 9th of July (according to some authorities on the loth)
in 1539, three years after his hapless cousin had suftered
the same death (but for a far different cause) in the same
place. He had been twice married, first to Anne, daucfhter
of Sir William Stonor, and secondly to Anne, daughter ot
Sir William Reade. With his children by the first wife
we are not concerned. His widow was in high favour with
Queen Mary, and after the martyr's death married Sir
John Parry, through whom the manor of Salden, Bucks,
came into the family. The martyr's eldest son, John, was
unhappily educated a Protestant, and was Preceptor to
Queen Elizabeth, Keeper of the Wardrobe, and Chancellor
of the Exchequer. But among his descendants 1 find
many names distinguished for their faith and piety, of
whom not a few consecrated themselves to God by the
vows of religion. The martyr's grandson. Sir Francis
Fortescue of Salden (Sir John's third son), next claims
our attention. Whether he died reconciled to the Church

220 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

is uncertain, for as Father Gerard wrote, "he presumed
too much on an opportunity of doing penance before
death." The insertion of his name in the Louvain Dirge-
book is a strong presumption in his favour.

In his house Father Gerard and other priests lived in
safety, preaching and saying Mass, "for the mistress was
a devout Catholic and the master no enemy to religion."
Sir Francis was a Knight of the Bath and in favour at
Court. His wife, Grace Manners, who according to one of
my authorities was the daughter, according to another the
niece, of the Earl of Rutland, was a convert of Father
Gerard's, and by her influence their children were brought
up Catholics. One of these was Sister Frances Fortescue,
professed at Louvain in 1622 ; another, Adrian, entered
the Society of Jesus. Among the grandchildren of Sir
Francis, Frances and Grace became Benedictine nuns at
Ghent, and in the next generation his great-granddaughter,
Elizabeth Fortescue, was professed in our community as
Sister dementia in 1680. One of her sisters was Dame
Mary Fortescue, O.S.B., of Dunkirk ; another, Anne, lived
and died in our community, without taking vows, and the
family name often recurs in the Benefactors' Book. Con-
cerning Grace Manners, Lady Fortescue of Salden, occurs
in the Calender of State Papers one of those entries that
recall so touchingly the sufferings of our forefathers. It is
a petition to the King from George, Earl of Shrewsbury
and others in these terms : " Dame Grace Fortescue
demised the manor of Salden, Bucks, to the petitioners for
payment of the debts of her late husband. Sir Francis
Fortescue, and after became a recusant convict. Pray the
King to confirm the afore-mentioned demise."

Let us now return to Blessed Adrian. Through his
third son, Sir Anthony, God added still more to His crown
by the piety of his descendants. Sir Anthony's wife was
Margaret, the granddaughter of Blessed Margaret Pole,
Countess of Salisbury and daughter of Geofifrey Pole, the
Cardinal's brother. Their second son, John Fortescue, is

[Face page 221.

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 221

described in the MS. before me as "of no great estate but
of ancient family," whose house was a receptacle for all
priests and religious without partiality or exception." He
married Helen, daughter of Ralph Henslow, of whom our
Louvain Records tell us that "she was near of kin to the
Earl of Southampton and a most constant Catholic.
Topcliffe could not abide her, because she played him so
many pretty tricks in shifting away the priests out of his
fingers." This holy couple came over to end their days in
Flanders. Their daughter, Mary, made her profession at
St Monica's on the same day as Sister Gertrude Winter.

From a MS. belonging to our community we learn that
there was a fourth and last baronet. Sir Francis, son of Sir
Edward by his second wife, Mary Reresby. He was Sister
Clement's brother. Another of our MSS. adds concerning
Sister Mary's father, Mr John Fortescue, that " he lived upon
an office which Sir John Fortescue, a member of the Privy
Council, provided him of" ; that in term time Masses were
said all the morning in his house, and that his wife, a niece
of Cardinal Pole, always kept the pursuivants at bay till the
priests were hidden.

With regret I am compelled to leave to a subsequent
volume our notices of Blessed Margaret Pole's family, the
Bedingfields, and others, whose names will occur again in
the Chronicle. This first series of prefaces may well be
closed by an account of the Plowdens and Constables.
Sisters Constable and Plowden had already arrived at St
Monica's in 1624.

Plowden Hall (formerly spelt also Ployden, Playden, etc.),
as it is at present, remains in great measure, especially in
the interior, as it was rebuilt by Edmund Plowden in
Elizabeth's reign ; with small panelled and tapestried
dwelling-rooms, abounding in nooks and corners, with
cleverly devised priests' hiding-holes. It is built in a wooded
hollow, within the parish of Lydbury North, in the hundred
of Purslow, county of Salop. Here Plowdens have lived
and died ever since the time when the Crusader, Sir Roger

222 CHKONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

de Plowden, in the year 1 190. built the small Lady Chapel
still attached to Lydbury Parish Church, in thanksgiving
■for his safe return from the siege of Acre. The Plowden
Chapel is in the north transept.

The tenth in descent from the crusader was Edmund
Plowden, the renowned lawyer. His parents were
Humphrey and Elizabeth Plowden, his mother being the
dauo-hter of John Sturry ; her first husband was William
Woollascot. Edmund, born in 1517, studied at Cambridge
and afterwards at Oxford. He was at first a physician, but
forsook medicine for the law, and according to Sergeant
Woolrych, " the Middle Temple claims the great lawyer.
He was entered of that Inn in 1538." None of his pro-
fession have won higher encomiums from his contempor-
aries, both for legal knowledge and integrity of life.
Camden writes of him : " Great was the capacity and good
the inclination of this man ; large the furniture and happy
the culture of his soul ; grave his mien and stately his
behaviour ; well regulated his affections and allayed his
passions ; well principled his mind and well set his spirit :
solid his observation, working and practical his judgment."
He married Katherine, daughter of William Sheldon of
Beoly in Worcestershire. Francis, his third son, was the
father of our Sister Margaret Plowden.

The greatest glory of Edmund Plowden was his inflexible
fidelity to his religion. A letter from Queen Elizabeth
to the great lawyer, now unhappily lost, was formerly at
Plowden Hall, in which the Queen offered to make him
Chancellor if he would abandon his faith. But a copy of
his answer is preserved, in these terms : —

" Hold me, dread Sovereign, excused. Your Majesty
well knows I find no reason to swerve from the Catholic
faith, in which you and I were brought up. I can never
countenance the persecution of its professors. I should
not have in charge your Majesty's conscience one week
before I should incur your displeasure, if it be your Majesty's
royal intent to continue the system of persecuting the

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 223

retainers of the Catholic faith." But he did not lose
Elizabeth's respect. In 1562 he was one of the Council of
the Duchy of Lancaster. In Mary's reign he had firmly
opposed the death sentences on Protestants for cause of
religion, seceding bodily from Parliament at the risk of fine
and imprisonment when he could not prevail.

But for a distinguished Catholic to escape altogether
from persecution was very difficult in that age. Bishop
Bonner was a prisoner in the Marshalsea for his religion,
when Home, the Anglican Bishop of Winchester, ordered
the oath of supremacy to be tendered to him, and Bonner
was indicted for refusing. Plowden at once denied that
Home was a Bishop and required that the question might
be submitted to a jury. This was granted by the judges of
the court, but such was the terror of the Anglican pre-
lates, lest their ordination should be called in question, that
matters were not allowed to proceed further.

Plowden's refusal to admit the royal supremacy caused
him to be compelled to give a bond to appear before the
Privy Council whenever summoned. In rebuilding Plowden
he was careful to make provision of priests' hiding-places,
and I may give here another passage from the volume before
me. ** It is related that Edmund Plowden once came within
danger of the law. One day some evil-disposed persons
told him that Mass was about to be celebrated in a certain
house in the neighbourhood in case he might wish to assist
thereat. Edmund accepted the invitation, attended the
service, and was seen to make the sign of the Cross and
use his prayer-book. Shortly afterwards, he was summoned
and tried for the offence, but being suspicious of foul play
somewhere or other, he cross-examined the witnesses, and
amongst others the supposed priest who had officiated. He
demanded of this man whether he would swear to being a
priest, and upon his answering in the negative, 'Then,'
quoth Plowden, ' the case is altered ; no priest, no Mass ;
no Mass, no violation of the law.' 'The case is altered,
quoth Plowden,' became a common proverb."

224 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

We find him repeatedly fined for cause of religion, and
on 2nd December 1580, articles in matters of religion
against him were exhibited to the Privy Council, the spirit
whereof may be understood from a brief extract : " He
came to church until the Bull came that Felton was
executed for, and the northern rebels rose upon, and after
that he utterly refused both services, sacraments, and every
other means to communicate with the church. . . . He hath
openly and reproachfully, King Henry the Eighth being
commended for rooting out the Pope and his power, called
him a great slouch, and said he was like a bull in a common,
and that Justice Montague was his butcher, to execute
whom he would."

The Plowden Hall Records have much to say of the
great lawyer's intimate relations with that noble confessor
of the faith. Sir Francis Englefield, whose estates in
Shropshire he managed, and whose nephew was his ward,
to whom he made a gift of his wardship. This Mr Engle-
field proved ungrateful, and broke his promise of allowing
Humphrey Sandford, Plowden's nephew, a lease of his
land. This harshness caused the death of Richard
Sandford, Humphrey's father, who died at Plowden.

Sergeant Plowden died 6th February 1584, at the age
of sixty-seven. Edmund, his eldest son, died unmarried,
two years after his father. Humphrey, the second, had
died in infancy, and the third son, Francis, mentioned in
our Chronicle, succeeded his brother. By his marriage
with Mary, sister of Sir Richard Fermor of Somerton in
Oxfordshire, he had twelve children, of whom Margaret,
the youngest, took the white habit of our Canonesses.
"Francis Plowden," say the Plowden MSS., "was fearfully
persecuted, his house sacked, his estates confiscated," for
his invincible attachment to the Catholic Faith. He lived
partly at Plowden, partly at Shiplake in Oxfordshire, in a
house that no longer exists, and where he died on
nth December 1652, at the great age of ninety.

Edmund Plowden (2) the brother of our Sister, obtained

1

■■^ z

O 3

w >,

[Face page 225.

CHRONICLE or ST MONICA'S 225

from Charles I. a grant of the territory of " New Albion "
in America, as a county palatine, where he lived for six
years. After the Restoration, Charles II. conferred the
province on his brother, James, afterwards James II.
Father Thomas Plowden, Sir Edmund's brother, alias
Salisbury, is the first of ten members of the family whose
biographies are given by Brother Foley, and were professed
in the Society of Jesus, of whom several were amongst the
most illustrious of the English Province. Sir Edmund's
life was much saddened by litigation with his son, Francis,
whom he disinherited.

Francis Plowden, Sister Margaret's eldest brother,
succeeded to the Shropshire estates. He was twice
married ; first to Elizabeth, daughter of Alban Butler
of Aston-le- Wells in Northamptonshire ; secondly, to
Katharine, widow of Richard Butler of Callan, Co.
Kilkenny, in Ireland. To the family of his first wife
belonged the Rev. Alban Butler, author of the Lives of
the Saints. One of his daughters by the second marriage
was Sister Marina Plowden, for twenty-five years Prioress
of our community of St Monica's. " In the Convent of
Newton Abbot, South Devon, are a handsome chasuble
and three antependiums, richly embroidered in silk and
gold. On the former of these is worked the Plowden arms
on a raised ground, and one of the most aged of the
community well recollects the embroidering to have been
originally grounded on cloth of silver, and afterwards
transferred." So wrote in 1871 the compiler of the
Plowden MSS.

The holy life of Mother Marina, the lawyer's great-
granddaughter, who was for twenty-five years Prioress of
St Monica's, is related at unusual length by the chronicler
in its own place. The edifying lives of those Plowdens who
entered the Society of Jesus have been inserted in Brother
Foley's Records, and I have only space at my disposal for
a few disconnected gleanings from the family annals, but

which will not be without interest to our readers.

p

226 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

Among the gallant cavaliers who surrendered to
Fairfax when Oxford was taken by the army of the
Parliament in 1646, and were allowed to pass out with
their servants and horses, one was Francis Plowden, Sister
Marina's father. When he died in 1661, Katharine, his
widow, crossed the sea and joined her daughter. Dame
Ursula Butler, in the Benedictine Abbey at Ghent. Six
years later she made her profession there under the name
of Dame Scholastica, in the sixtieth year of her age. Her
stepson, Edmund, succeeded his father at Plowden. By
his wife, Elizabeth Cotton, he had seven children, whereof
the two youngest became Jesuits. His eldest son, Edmund,
succeeded him ; his second, Francis, took to wife Mary
Stafford Howard, granddaughter of the venerable martyr,
William, Viscount Stafford, beheaded on Tower Hill, on
the Feast of St Thomas of Canterbury, 1680. James H.
attached them to his Court, making Francis Plowden his
Controller, while his wife was Maid of Honour to Queen
Mary Beatrice.

When James and his Queen went into exile, Francis
Plowden and his family followed them, and for the next
generation this branch of the Plowdens formed part of the
mournful pageant that centred round the exiled monarch
in his phantom Court at St Germain's.

The little four-year-old Mary Plowden, of whom Miss
Strickland tells a pretty anecdote, showing how she always
managed to get out of penance by getting the King to
send for her to his room, was the daughter of Francis and
Elizabeth Plowden, and in after years became the wife of
Sir George Jermingham of Cossey.

Edmund, the elder brother of Francis Plowden, married
Penelope, daughter of Sir Maurice Drummond, Bart.
Four of their sons entered the Society of Jesus. The
portrait and records of Sir John Perrot, which are now at
Plowden, were brought thither by Penelope Drummond,
his descendant. Of this extraordinary man, a reputed son
of Henry VHI. and consequently half-brother to Queen

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 227

Elizabeth, who made him Lord Deputy of Ireland,
Rawlinson says : " As he did exceed most men in stature,
so did he in strength of body ; his hair was auburn, until
it grew grey in his elder years ; his countenance full of
majesty ; his eye marvellous, piercing and carrying a
commanding aspect, insomuch that when he was angry,
he had a very terrible visage or look, and when he was
pleased, or willing to show kindness, he then had as
amiable a countenance as any man." There is also at
Plowden a portrait of a Mary Perrot, who cannot with
certainty be identified. She is represented dressed in
black velvet, and wearing a black gauze veil. The date of
this portrait is 1594, two years after Sir John's death in
the Tower. Underneath is the following inscription in
Latin : " The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and of
my cup ; it is Thou that will restore my inheritance to me " ;
doubtless an application of the text to Sir John's attainder
and the confiscation of his estates. As the quotation is
from the Vulgate, it may indicate that Mary Perrot was a
Catholic. Penelope Plowden, nde Drummond, bequeathed
a sum of £6^00 to the Benedictines of Lambspring for an
English student for the priesthood. The old deed, pre-
served at Plowden, requires that "none be admitted or
retained on this foundation but such as are of a pious
conversation, of a contemplative spirit, and will in probability
become religious men and priests. . . . The students
admitted on this foundation shall be carefully instructed in
mental prayer, and in case they become religious, peculiarly
applied to the reading and practice of Father Augustine
Baker's books and instructions." When priests, they had
to say two Masses a week, one for the conversion of
England, and the other for the souls in Purgatory, accord-
incr to the intention of the foundress. The deed concludes :
"These conditions upon the receipt of the ^400 were
assented to by Joseph Sherwood, Abbot, and his Council,
and the seal of the monastery accordingly fixed on this
schedule the i6th of September, anno 1684."

228 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

Dorothy, daughter of Edmund and Penelope Plowden,
and sister to the four Jesuits above mentioned, was twice
married, first to Philip Draycott of Paynsley, and after his
death to Sir William Goring of Burton in Sussex. Three
portraits of Dorothy are preserved at Plowden, as also a
lock of her hair, " measuring five feet in length, of a rich
brown colour," add the Records. Of Lady Goring we read
in a little volume preserved in the convent of the
Sepulchrine nuns at Newhall : " After the death of her
husband Lady Goring retired into the English convent at
Liege, and spent the remaining fourteen years of her life
in the most heroic virtues. Limiting her own expenses to
what was strictly necessary, she spent the whole of her
jointure of £1000 per annum on the poor, or in benefactions
to the various religious institutions, principally to the
Jesuits' college and the Sepulchrine community with whom
she dwelt. She died in the odour of sanctity in the year
1737." Her large prayer-book with silver clasps, reminds
us of how familiar were our Catholic ancestors with the
liturgy of the Church, for the Latin Office for the Dead
and that of our Blessed Lady are quite worn away by daily
use. During the lifetime of her second husband she kept
up the chapel at Burton Castle till her death. In
December 1688, the castle was raided by the constables
and the mob, in the dead of night, and her chaplain,
Father Anthony Selosse, S.J., was seized and carried to
prison.

We must bring our notes to a close, only recording that
the traditional piety of the house of Plowden has continued
to our own days. In one generation during the latter part
of the eighteenth century, out of fifteen children of
William Plowden by his wife, Frances, daughter of Lord
Dormer, two entered the Society of Jesus, three were
professed in the Franciscan community of Bruges (now
Taunton), another was a Sepulchrine at Liege. Nor were
the fruits of the same ancestral tradition less copious in
the nineteenth century. (Dame Benedicta Plowden was

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 229

professed among the Benedictines of Brussels in 1732.)
Several have in these latest times joined the Sisters of
Charity, and as we said at the beginning, the family is
represented at present among the nuns at St Augustine's,
Newton Abbot.

Our chronicler records on St Lawrence's day, 1625,
the profession of Sister Grace Constable. The name of
Constable calls up so many holy and inspiring Catholic
memories that we cannot omit an outline of the family
history of the Constables.

For the origin of the name we must go back to the
twelfth and thirteenth centuries, when the redoubtable
Norman barons who bore the name of De Lacy, and were
hereditary Constables of Chester, seem to have divided
their time between fighting the Welsh and building
monasteries, save when leading their followers in the armies
of the Crusaders. One of the most renowned of these
powerful Lords Marchers, Roger de Lacy, justiciar. Lord
of Pontefract, and Constable of Chester, who died in 12 12
or 121 1, had two sons, of whom Robert, the younger,
obtained from his elder brother a gift of certain manors,
whereof that of Flamborough was the chief. Robert forth-
with dropped the name of De Lacy, and assumed as a
surname that of Constable. With the posterity of the
elder brother, who became Earl of Lincoln, we having
nothing to do. But Robert's descendants, the Constables
of Flamborough, held their stronghold on that promontory
of the Yorkshire coast through twelve generations, till
another Sir Robert lost his estates with his life for his
loyalty to the faith of his fathers. Of this holy martyr and
his noble father, I have a few words to say.

The eleventh in descent from that Robert who first
assumed the name was Sir Marmaduke Constable of
Flamborough, known as the "Little Sir Marmaduke."
His charmingly quaint epitaph, still to be seen on a brass
plate in Flamborough Church, records his honourable life
history : how "with King Edward the Fourth, that noble

230 CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

knight," he passed into France in 1474; how he was
present at the taking of Berwick in 1482, was made
governor thereof, "and ruled and governed there all his
time without blame" ; and, finally, how at the age of three-
score and ten he buckled on his armour to fisfht the Scots
at Flodden, where he commanded the left wingf of the
English army. " Of the wing on the left hand was captain
Sir Marmaduke Constable with his sons, Sir William
Percy, and of Lancashire a thousand men," writes Stow.
Staunch and loyal to their religion were the Constables,
aud the executors of his will not only founded four scholar-
ships in St John's College, Cambridge, but likewise a
fellowship for a priest to pray for the soul of Sir Marma-
duke, according to the devout wish expressed at the close
of his epitaph : —

" I pray you my kynsmen, lovers and frendis all
To pray to our Lord Jhesu to have mercy on my sowll."

The eldest of his gallant sons who bore the brunt of
battle by their aged father's side at Flodden, Sir Robert,
succeeded him. Never had the fortunes of the knightly
house of Flamborough stood so high as when they were
on the eve of ruin. The proud lord of thirty-six manors
in Yorkshire and fourteen more in Lincolnshire, married
to the daughter of Sir William Ingleby, his eldest son the
husband of Lord Darcy's daughter, his own daughters
married into the powerful families of St Quintin, Hussey,
Gower, and Cholmeley, the last Constable of Flamborough,
surrounded by his stout kinsmen, seemed to have assured
the future greatness of his ancient line. But the chivalrous
knight was also a fervent Catholic ; all, and life itself, he
was to lose for his faith and his God.

Fiercely resenting the religious innovations and the
destruction of monasteries by Henry VIII., Sir Robert
Constable, Lord Darcy, and others, under the leadership
of Robert Aske, within the walls of Pomfret Castle, on the
19th of October 1536, took the oath of the Pilgrimage of

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 231

Grace. Under the banner of the Passion of Christ, and
another of St Cuthbert, wearing on their arms a badge of
the Five Wounds, an army of nearly 40,000 horsemen
marched to Doncaster. It is needless to rehearse the
story of defeat through fraud which has been so well told
by Abbot Gasquet, and how in the enterprise Sir Robert
Constable bore a prominent part, and held the town of
Hull for the commons, for the movement was essentially a
popular one. Among the noble victims sacrificed for their
faith. Sir Robert Constable and Aske were hanged in
chains at Hull ; Lord Darcy was beheaded on Tower Hill :
the Abbots of Jervaulx and Fountains, the Priors of Brid-
lington and Gisborough, John Pickering, a Dominican,
and others, were hanged and quartered in different places.
On the same occasion, the two Carthusians, Blessed John
Rochester and Blessed James Walworth, suffered martyr-
dom for refusing the royal supremacy, though they were
also charged with harbouring rebels in the monastery of
Our Lady at Hull.

The Pilgrimage of Grace was, without a shadow of
doubt, a rising in defence of the Catholic religion and the
rights of the Holy See. There is not a point of difference
between the motive for the execution of Sir Robert
Constable and that of Blessed Thomas Percy in the reign
of Elizabeth. Without forestalling the judgment of Rome,
we need not hesitate to look on Sir Robert and his com-
panions as having won the crown of martyrdom. The
ancestral estates of the lords of Flamborough passed away
from his family, and he was put to death as a traitor, but
not one of his line died a death so glorious as was that of
the last Constable of Flamborough. It is sad that his
lineal descendants did not walk in his footsteps, for his son,
Marmaduke, enriched himself with the spoils of the
monasteries, and his recreant grandson, a retainer of the
Earl of Leicester, betrayed the heroic leaders of the second
Pilgrimage of Grace. The family in this elder branch
ended with Sir William, who died in 1655.

232 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

With the attainder and execution, in 1537, of the brave
and good Sir Robert, the first chapter closes in the
Constable history, and the scene shifts from Flamborough
to Everingham. Everingham, a name singularly dear to
Catholics, has been for three centuries and a half, and is at
the present day, connected with the history of our English
Canonesses, as well as with that of other religious com-
munities. The chapel of Everingham, where, on the 15th
of February in this year, the Duke of Norfolk wedded a
daughter of the noble house of Herries, has been a home
of the Blessed Sacrament through all the long and dark
period when men sought to drive it from England.

Over twelve centuries ago, St Everilda, a noble North-
umbrian maiden, secretly fled from her father's house, and,
journeying southward, came with her companions to a spot
which a secret instinct led them to choose for the place of
their monastic home, under the rule of St Benedict. It
belonged to the See of York. St Wilfrid, then Archbishop,
made it over to the saint and her nuns. From St Everilda,
whose feast was kept on the 9th of July, Everingham took
its name, and so did the knightly family of De Everingham,
lords of this Yorkshire manor.

The estates of Everingham eventually passed to
heiresses, and formed part of the dowry which Barbara,
daughter of Sir John Suttill, brought to her husband, Sir
Marmaduke Constable, brother of the martyred Sir Robert.
Sir Marmaduke and his lady lie buried in Everingham
Church, and with them begins the line of Constables of
Everingham, whose family history for two centuries is a
record of cruel suffering for the faith of their fathers, loyalty
unto death for their King and country, and the life of prayer
in the quiet cloister. Sir Marmaduke died eight years after
his brother's execution in 1545 ; Lady Constable had gone
to her reward in 1540. This line of Constables of Evering-
ham, abounding in examples of heroism and sanctity, lasted
for nine generations, ending with another Sir Marmaduke,
called in our Louvain MSS. " the last of his house," who

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 233

died unmarried in 1745. They formed alliances with the
Catholic families of Manners, Conyers, Tywhitt, Sherborne,
Radcliffe, and others, but no influence of kindred, nor
unblemished integrity in public and private life, could
avail to save them from grinding persecution for Christ's
sake.

Barbara Constable, granddaughter of the first Constable
of Everingham, by her marriage with Sir William Bab-
thorpe, first brings the family into connection with our
community. Of our two Sisters Babthorpe, grandmother
and granddaughter, professed together at Louvain, we
have spoken at length elsewhere. Henry, brother to Sir
Marmaduke Constable, ordained priest in 161 8, left the
English College, Rome, for his native country in the
following year, in which one of his brothers entered the
Society of Jesus. The storm of persecution burst on the
family in all its fury in the days of their nephew. Sir Philip,
who succeeded his father in 1632, and died in 1664. By
special favour he was allowed, in 1632, to go beyond five
miles from his house, and at that time and for long after
was paying ^250 a year for non-attendance at Protestant
services. At the outbreak of the Oiv'il War he was over
seventy-two years of age. His gallant brothers, Michael
and Marmaduke, fell in battle for their King. His house
was plundered and ruined by the soldiery, and from the
hardships of their flight to York, his wife died. This lady,
Anne Roper, was aunt to the two Sisters Roper of St
Monica's. Sir Philip's reward was great in his posterity.
Three of his children, Philip, Thomas, and Barbara, were
professed in the Order of St Benedict. His daughter,
Catharine, married to Edward Sheldon of Steeple Barton
in Oxfordshire, saw her two daughters professed among our
Canonesses, the elder of whom. Sister Delphina, was the
fifth Prioress. His eldest son, Sir Marmaduke, dying at
Antwerp in 1680, desired his body to be brought to St
Monica's that he might rest among those to whom he had
been ever devoted in life. He was buried there, before the

234 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

altar of the Blessed Virgin. The second chapter of the
story was nearing its close. The eldest son of the good
baronet, Sir Philip, married Margaret Radcliffe, daughter
of the first Earl of Derwentwater, whose two sisters were
nuns at St Monica's, concerning which heroic race we shall
have to write at length hereafter. Among the portraits at
Everingham is that of Anne Constable in the white habit of
a Canoness of St Monica's. She was Sir Philip's sister, and
another sister, Elizabeth, is said also to have been a nun,
though not at Louvain.

"The last of his race," Sir Marmaduke, son of Sir
Philip Constable and Anne Radcliffe, of course a staunch
Jacobite (St Monica's was of all our English communities
perhaps the most intensely loyal to the house of Stuart),
was imprisoned at York Castle in 1745, the year of Prince
Charles Edward's invasion, but escaped and died abroad.
His sister Anne married William Haggerston, whose elder
brother had died fighting in Ireland for James II., while
of his younger brothers, two were Jesuits and one a
Benedictine. This stout old Northumbrian family has
always been a type of the tradition of consecrating most of
its children to God, in which holy practice the Catholic
nobility of England stands unrivalled in modern times.
Abbess Haggerston, O.S.B., of Pontoise, and Dame Mary
Scholastica, her sister, a nun in the same holy community,
were daughters of William Haggerston and Anne Constable.
To their brother, Sir Carnaby, Marmaduke Constable left
the Everingham estates.

The instinct of heroic deeds, whether in the winning
the martyr's crown, laying down their lives on the battle-
field, or bidding farewell to the world to embrace the poverty
of Christ, as occasion offered, did not forsake the descend-
ants of the Constables of Flamborough in the third chapter
of their history, on which we now enter. William
Haggerston - Constable of Everingham married, 17th
October 1758, Lady Winifred Maxwell, daughter and
heiress of Lord Maxwell and granddaughter of the attainted

Sister Anne Constable (of Evekingham).
Daughter of Sir Marmaduke Constable of Everingham, Bart., and Anne Sherborne of Sionyhurst.

Piirtrait at Kveritujlmm. Vij kind permission, of Lord Hurries.

[Face page 284.

CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 235

Earl of Nithsdale. The Maxwells, Lords Herries, and,
since 1667, Earls of Nithsdale, bear a stainless name for
unshaken loyalty to the house of Stuart, especially con-
spicuous in the Lord Herries who guided Queen Mary in
her flight, after the battle of Langside, and in the fifth
Earl of Nithsdale, condemned to death in 17 15, but saved
by the heroism of his incomparable countess, sister to Lady
Lucy Herbert, in religion Sister Teresa Joseph, the saintly
Prioress of the Canonesses at Bruges.

To enter at length in the subsequent history of the family
would be beyond our scope ; we must content ourselves
with chronicling a few names and facts. One holy and
venerated name is cherished among the writer's own re-
collections. Catharine Constable, in religion Dame
Romana, O.S.B., Abbess of St Scholastica's, Teignmouth,
died there 21st February 1889. She was the grand-
daughter of William Haggerston and Winifred Maxwell,
her parents being Charles Haggerston-Constable and Mary,
daughter of Thomas Macdonald of Keppoch. All who
knew Abbess Constable will remember her majestic and
gracious presence, and the simplicity and gentleness of her
conversation. But not everyone had the privilege of know-
ing her gifts of prayer and humility, the deep calm and
peace of a noble spirit that seemed never to depart a
moment from the overpowering thought of God's presence.
She seemed to realise to the full the ideal of a Benedictine
Abbess, as it has come down to us from the days of St
Mildred or St Hilda.

By Act of Parliament passed in 1848, William Constable-
Maxwell of Everingham, and all the descendants of William,
Earl of Nithsdale, were restored in blood, and in 1858, Mr
Constable Maxwell was declared entitled to the honour and
dignity of Lord Herries of Terregles. He married Marcia,
eldest daughter of the Hon. Sir Marmaduke Vavasour, Bart.,
whose saintly life was worthy of her descent. They had
seven sons and nine daughters, and of these nine daughters
six entered religion, two of them among the Canonesses of

236 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

our Newton Abbot community. One of his sons, on his
marriage with the great-granddaughter of Sir Walter Scott,
Mary Monica Hope-Scott, added the family name to his
own, and is now known as the Hon. Joseph Maxwell-Scott.
His eldest brother, the present Lord Herries, married
Angela Fitzalan Howard, daughter of Lord Howard of
Glossop.

On the 15th of February in the present year, the Hon.
Gwendolen Constable, their eldest daughter, became the
Duchess of Norfolk. Her wedding to the Premier Duke
of England, in the beautiful little church of Everingham,
built by the late Lord Herries, was a scene on which those,
who during a thousand years had made St Everilda's
home a sanctuary of Catholic faith and holiness, must have
gazed with delight. The splendour of Christian humility
transcends incomparably the lustre of worldly greatness ;
but God has willed that to her ancient Catholic families
England should owe a debt she can never repay for the
loyalty to their ancestral faith, which has been one of the
chiefest means in saving us from being sunk in heresy.

CHAPTER VI

From the Commencement of Building St Monica's Church, in 1622, to
THE Death of Sister Susan Layburn, " the Martyr's Daughter,"
bringing the Chronicle to the beginning of the year 1625.

In the year 1622, about the spring, we began to build our
church, by reason that, our company increasing so fast, we
were much straightened in the foresaid choir. Therefore
we determined, to the honour and glory of God, to erect a
church, taking for it divers portions of our Sisters that
were professed, as also our worthy friend, Dr Csesar
Clement, who was Vicar-General and Dean of St Gudula's
Church, in Brussels, gave us of his own goodwill ^200
towards the same, being very desirous to assist in so good
a work, and himself came here to lay the first stone. So
that this summer the walls were built up unto the roof,
but we pulled down two or three rooms of our outhouses
for to set this our church in a convenient place, according
as should be most commodious, as also we adjoined unto
it the Father's house that now is. But this work beingf
newly begun, after Whitsuntide, we were much frighted
with a sudden invasion of our enemies, who through the
carelessness of those who kept the waters had gotten the
liberty to make a bridge, so that a good company of
soldiers came over and got into these parts with armed
might ; burning houses and spoiling the country, coming
even to the gates of Brussels and of this town also, which
made us in heavy case, by reason that there were no
soldiers in the town to defend it ; but the religious men
were forced to turn soldiers. Wherefore, in the English

238 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

College of St John's was one father who had been a soldier,
to wit. Captain Stanley, who assisted well in this necessity,
for he made them to trench up some of the town gates with
earth, that the enemy might not break them open with
their cannon shot, as also set the rest in order, and taught
them what to do. But the enemy, as God would have it,
had not the heart to assault the town, thinking themselves
too few for such an exploit ; only burned houses even to
the town gates, and so at length departed to our great joy,
who were all in extreme fear. For, not to omit what passed
the while in our monastery, here was almost continual
prayer kept, and many had heavy hearts, not knowing
what would happen. The religious that lived without the
town were gotten in to save themselves, and with them
their sheep and cattle for safeguard, so that in the night
our great court, which now is taken into ourselves, was
full of sheep to be kept here. At one time we heard a
false rumour that the enemy were gotten into the town and
had entered the market-place, whereupon we all went to the
choir and there prostrate on the ground prayed unto our
Lord for help and assistance in this great distress. Many
a bitter tear was then shed until we heard again it was not
so ; that the enemy were not gotten into the town. Thus
did Almighty God send us a trial to see how we would be
prepared to stand constant if we should have been brought
to that great misery, for we feared more to be abused by
the soldiers than to lose our lives. Finally, our hope alone
was in God that he would assist us to stand constant in His
love whatsoever might happen.

After this fearful brunt was passed, upon the 19th of
June, in the same year, 1622, four nuns were professed
together : Sister Frances Kemp, Sister Frances Fortescue,
Sister Augustine Bedingfield, and Sister Mary Pool (Pole).
Of whom to speak in particular : first Sister Frances Kemp
was daughter to Thomas Kemp of Pentlow Hall in Essex,
Esquire, who lived a schismatic, but before his death was
reconciled and died a Catholic. His widow married after-

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 239

wards with Sir Robert Brook ; and she, being a Catholic,
was desirous to place some of her daughters in monasteries,
to see if they would have a mind to religion. Wherefore,
this her daughter, Frances, came over with her half-sister,
Susan Brook, and they entered together in our cloister, where
this Frances Kemp lived till she was twenty-one years old
as a scholar, being about seventeen when she entered, and
then went into England to get her portion, being at that
age due to her. Which having received, in her coming
over again she was taken with other gentlewomen, and
brought before the Bishop of Canterbury, whom she
answered very craftily, yet was kept in prison about nine
weeks, in which time she carried herself most courageously ;
afterwards by means of friends being released, she came
over to this her desired habitation, and made her profession
at the age of twenty-three.

Sister Frances Fortescue was daughter of Sir Francis
Fortescue, son of the forementioned John Fortescue, of the
Privy Council, of a great estate. His chief house was
Salden in Buckinghamshire. This his daughter, Frances,
was by her mother offered unto God in her childhood, and
from the age of seven years had a mind to be a religious.
She was at fit age deputed for the monastery of St
Benedict's at Brussels, but about the time she should have
come over, our Lord sent her the falling sickness, which
detained her about four years, and after that, finding by
means of a certain water that she used some remedy to her
disease, she came over indifferent to choose any place as
she liked. Yet, notwithstanding, coming to Brussels she
thought it good at first to enter there as the place of her
long design ; but it was not God's will, for when she had
mentioned to be admitted, and that the Lady Abbess was
willing, presently she felt to her seeming as it were one
to put her back, and began to be so troubled in mind, that
she told the Abbess plainly she could not enter there ; her
mind was changed, so departing from that cloister she came
away. The Lady Abbess took it not well, as thinking

240 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

that somebody had persuaded her from them. But the
truth is, it was only God alone, who would, as the event
showed, have her here. For coming after to our monastery
she liked it very well, and begging the place was admitted,
and after her entry was never troubled more with the falling
sickness, but went forward well and had very good health,
so made her profession at the age of twenty-five years.

Sister Austin Bedingfield was the daughter of Francis
Bedingfield of Redlingfield in Suffolk, Esquire, a very good
Catholic and harbourer of priests, whose father, John
Bedingfield, was also a most constant Catholic and suffered
much divers times for his conscience. Having a priest
taken in his house, he was fain to give a great sum of
money to escape the law ; and it was well that it happened
in King James's time ; for if it had been in Queen Elizabeth's
reign he should have lost all and perhaps his life, too. He
continued still his charity unto priests for all this, receiving
willingly all that came, and maintaining one always of
residence in his house ; so that at length God took him to
his eternal reward by a most happy and blessed death. For
about the time of his decease he said devoutly these words
of St Peter : " Behold, we have left all, and followed Thee,
what, then, shall be our reward ? " and thereupon as we may
hope, found the answer of our Lord by entering into life
everlasting, where he was to possess a hundredfold for all
that he had lost in the profession of the true religion.
His son married the eldest daughter of Mr John Fortescue,
of whom we have already made mention when we spoke of
Sister Mary Fortescue, where we declared that her sisters
were married before she came out of England, and this
was the eldest of them. About the time she was to be
married she began to repent her, and said she would fain
be a religious. Her father told her if she had showed any
such mind sooner he would very willingly have yielded to
it ; but now that her portion was half paid she must stand
to it. So she consented, but sought by her children to
make up that which she did not perform herself, for having

William, Fifth Earl of Nithsdale. (Attainted.)

Frim Piirtriiil at Eviriniilnnn.

[Face page 240.

i

I

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 241

nine daughters, eight of them she hath already sent over seas
to divers places. This was the eldest, named Helen, whom
her grandmother, Fortescue, brought with her to St Omer's,
when she came to live there, being about eight years of
age, and she lived with her grandmother till fifteen, at which
time, having always had a mind to be a religious, her grand-
mother procured a place in our monastery, where her aunt
Mary was professed some years before, and so she came
here, having had education fit for religion, for she was
taught at St Omer's the Latin tongue, and made now her
profession at the age of eighteen, changing her name from
Helen to Augustine, in honour of our Holy Father.

Sister Mary Pole {Pool in MS.) was daughter to
Geoffrey Pole of the blood royal, for his father was brother
to Cardinal Pole, of happy memory, and son of the worthy
Countess of Salisbury, Margaret Plantagenet, daughter
unto the Duke of Clarence, brother to King Edward the
Fourth ; the which Countess was married unto Sir Richard
Pole, Knight of the Garter, by whom she had Cardinal
Pole, who stoutly withstood King Henry the Eighth in
his wicked doings, when he broke off with the See
Apostolic. Wherefore the said King made it high treason
to any that should relieve or assist Cardinal Pole who was
living then at Rome {Room in MS.), and at length having
a mind to make away his mother, they suborned accusations
aeainst her that she had relieved her son. So that she
was condemned to be beheaded, as also her two sons, the
eldest being Lord Montague, and the other named Sir
Geoffrey Pole. This noble Countess was thus by most
treacherous dealing brought to her end without any trial
or hearing of her defence, for wicked Cromwell had gotten
it ordained that such as were convicted of treason should
not be admitted to their answer, and himself by the great
judgment of God fell into the snare which he had made
for others, and became the second or third that was put to
death in the same manner.

When therefore the said Countess saw that she must

Q

242 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

die for so just and innocent a cause, she spoke thus of
King Henry the Eighth : ** Have I," said she, " put my
hand upon his head to make him a Christian (for she was
his godmother in baptism), and will he now in recompense
cut off my head ? " Thus was this noble lady beheaded
for defence of justice at the age of sixty-six years, having
been a widow from the age of twenty-five, which showed
well her great virtue, and deserved to be styled among the
number of martyrs. Her son, Sir Geoffrey Pole, being
also condemned, took such extreme grief at the wicked and
malicious proceeding against his mother and himself that
he fell extreme sick, and was come even to the point of
death before the executioner bereaved him of life. Where-
upon his lady, being a very devout and good woman, took
the heart to go to the King and beg his life in this distressed
case, hoping, as it should seem, that if she could obtain his
life of an earthly Prince, she might perhaps obtain it of
the King of Heaven. Upon this her request they told the
King that his majesty might well grant her this for her
comfort, in respect that her husband was already as good
as dead. She having then obtained her petition, caused
presently five Masses to be said for him in honour of our
Saviour's Five Wounds, unto which she was very devout ;
and behold. Almighty God heard her prayers, for as the
fifth was a-saying he began to mend, and soon after
recovered. But notwithstanding, his estate was all con-
fiscated to the King, so that he had no more left than what
was his wife's, who was an heiress, daughter of Sir Edward
Paginham (Packenham), who was descended from the
Kings of Ireland. By him she had many children, but of
all the sons none had issue except her son, Geoffrey Pole,
father to our sister, of whom to speak now.

He was a brave gentleman and courageous, a most
constant Catholic, a harbourer of priests, and one who,
being strong of hand, would beat the pursuivants and
catchpolls so handsomely that they stood in great fear of
him. Insomuch that once a pursuivant being sent down

CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 243

to serve a writ upon him for his conscience, he chanced to
meet with the pursuivant upon the way ; so that riding
together the fellow began to speak something of Mr
Geoffrey Pole, saying thus : " He is a shrewd man of his
hands, for he did beat a brother of mine, but I have here
something, I warrant, that will cool his courage " ; and told
him how he brought a writ for him. He heard him and
said nothing who he was, but entertained him with talk
and rode on together so long till he had him in a fit place,
and then said to him : " Here is Geoffrey Pole ; what hast
thou to say to him ? " The fellow pulled out his writ, and
said, as the manner is, " The Queen greets you " (for it
was in her reign). He hearing this, made no more ado,
but drew out his sword, and said : " Look here, fellow, I
give thee thy choice ; either eat up this writ presently, or
else eat my sword ; for one of both thou shalt do ere we
part hence."

The poor man began to quake for fear and durst not
resist him, but like a coward was wholly daunted, and did
indeed eat up the writ for mere fear rather than he would
be killed. So became the writ of no effect, but only to
punish the pursuivant for his pains. Such like good feats
did this worthy gentleman perform, showing always his
zeal unto the Catholic religion. At length he came over
to this side the seas, where he died like a constant Catholic,
in voluntary banishment, at Antwerp.

This his daughter, Mary, Almighty God chose for Him-
self, for having a mind to be a religious, she came out of
England into France at the time when some English
gentlewomen were about to set up a monastery there of St
Benedict's Order, intending to be with them, but that
design of the monastery's erection taking no effect, she
lived with her brother at Paris, who loving her dearly,
made her to keep house with him. So they lived there
seven years until, her brother going to Rome, she returned
into England and determined to come into these Low
Countries to be a religious in some English monastery

244 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

here. Wherefore she desired Mr Pits, a good priest, to
procure her a place in some cloister that he thought fit for
her ; and he preferred her here, knowing well our monastery,
for it was he that gave us our organ. Having then
remained about a year in England to set her things in
order, she took with her a cousin of hers, who also had a
desire to be a religious, Mrs (Miss) Mary Lamb, of whom
we shall speak more in due place. They both entered our
cloister, but her cousin was not professed, so soon as she
was, who now made her profession with the forementioned
three nuns at the age of thirty-nine years.

The same year, 1622, the ist of August, was professed
Ursula Whitshall, lay-sister, whose father was Sir Ralph
Babthorpe's bailiff, as also his godson. The Lady
Babthorpe, hearing of her husband's death, was resolved
to come over to be a religious ; therefore sought to bring a
maid with her who might also be a religious, and so asked
her if she would go, who was well content ; and so coming
over with Lady Babthorpe, she presently got a great mind
to be a relieious and would fain have entered here with her
lady. But we denied this her maid, Ursula Whitshall, at
first, by reason that we thought we had lay-sisters enough,
but at length, seeing her so earnestly desire to be among us,
we began to be moved to take her, for she served in the
town, Sir Thomas Liege, and did so pine away with desire
to be here that her health began much to decay, wherefore
we had compassion on her, and received her into our
monastery, and she made her profession at the age of
twenty-three years.

The same month, upon the 29th day, were professed
together four natural sisters : Mary, Barbara, Lidwine,
and Catherine Clapton (Clopton), daughters of William
Clapton in Bishoprickshire (Durham), and their mother
was of the chief house, named Anne Clapton of Clapton in
Warwickshire, who being with her sister both heiresses,
the elder was married unto the Lord Cary (Carew), after-
wards Earl of Totnes ; and this other was matched unto

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 245

the foresaid William Clapton, Esquire. They were married
very young, as commonly heirs are, he being only fourteen
years of age and she twelve, after which he was sent awhile
to study. Some time after their marriage it pleased
Almighty God of His goodness to call them unto the
Catholic religion, by what particular means we could not
learn. But this much we know, that after they were
reconciled they continued both very constant and suffered
many molestations for their conscience. Yea, at last he
lost all, by reason that having an office to receive the
King's money in three shires, he putting the said office into
a man's hand, because he doubted that being a Catholic
he should not be permitted to keep it, the said man
deceived him and sold the office away, insomuch that he
was fain to buy it again. For King James, hearing that
he had put it away from him because of his conscience, said
he needed not to do so for he could trust him, having
always found both him and his father faithful subjects, and
so he bought it again. These two constant Catholics were
very charitable in relieving of priests, and maintained
always one of residence in their house, besides receiving
those who came ; so that at one time there hath been no
less than a great table full. And being often troubled with
pursuivants. Almighty God did wonderfully help them
divers times ; at one time the priest being abroad, hearing
that searchers were coming towards the house, made haste
to get in, because he would fain save the altar, which was
then dressed in the best manner (not fearing himself,
because they had a sure secret place), and just as he was
coming indoors, one of the pursuivants said to him, " I
arrest you in the King's name." "Why," said the other,
"I am but a stranger, that came to see them." "That's
all one," said he, "you shall go with me." The priest
hearing this set a good face on the matter, and spake so to
the pursuivant that for two pieces of gold he let him depart
in peace, and in the meantime the altar and church stuff
was safe put up. Another time the pursuivants came on

246 CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

a sudden at the stair's foot which went up to the chapel,
where they had found all, but as God would, they chose
another door to go in first, which had a leaden pulley so
that it shut-to presently after them, and they could not
possibly open it again unless they had had the trick how
to do it. They, seeing this, chafed and said, "These
Papists are witches " ; but they let them knock on, till all
things were put up safe the whilst, so they found nothing.
They had an excellent place which was made all the length
of a little garden underground, and could have held a dozen
priests. The going into it was by a device in the parlour,
and it had another going forth beyond the said little
garden, where, if the secret place should be descried on the
inside, they might get forth on the outside, and make haste
to step into great woods or copses.

For all their frequent molestations, yet they never had
any great matter of danger found in their house. So did
our Lord preserve His servants ; and having very many
children, four of the daughters did desire of their parents
to be religious. The eldest of these, named Mary, having
always had a mind to be a religious, should have come
over with Sister Dorothy Lawson, being of the same
country in Yorkshire, but God ordained that her voyage
then was crossed, perhaps that her sisters might go with
her. For staying about one year and a half longer, three
more got also a mind to religion and so agreed to come
over together, and consulting with the priests that came to
their house what place and Order they should choose, this
place was judged and thought fittest for them. Wherefore,
Brother Mallerie the Carthusian, at their request, procured
them a place in our cloister, and so they came over, and
arriving at this monastery were admitted. The two
middlemost sisters changed their names after their entry
here at Confirmation, which Sacrament they received in
this town, the one being named Joyce took Barbara, and
the other, Jane, took the name of Lidwin.

So they were professed together, the eldest being at

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 247

the age of twenty-four, the second twenty-three, the third
twenty, and the youngest nineteen. Afterwards the two
middlemost sisters, Barbara and Lidwin, were sent to
Bruges to begin the monastery ; the eldest and youngest,
Mary and Catherine, remained here. But this we must
not omit, to wit, that after their profession their parents
fell into such troubles by reason of continual exactions, for
that being a Catholic and the King's receiver of money in
divers shires (their father), was wholly undone. So they
lost all they had, and then their only hope was in the
Countess of Totnes, the forementioned sister, that she
would leave them well at her death, having no children of
her own. But she died a great heretic as she was, and
left for her heirs one son and daughter of theirs whom she
had gotten away and made them go to church, which
daughter afterwards became a CathoHc again. But these
here could get nothing.

Upon the 4th of October the same year, 1622, was
professed Sister Elizabeth Godwin, daughter of James
Godwin, Esquire, dwelling in the city of Wells in Somerset-
shire, who, being a good Catholic, refused great preferments
for the love of God, which he might have had, because they
were against his conscience. For he was zealous in his re-
ligion and suffered long persecution, as also imprisonment
and other molestations for the Catholic Faith. Having
married a gentlewoman of virtuous disposition, but no
Catholic, he brought her into the Church ; who after she
was reconciled became a woman of great virtue. For, to
speak a little of her in particular, she was so humble and
had such a contempt of herself, that she would scarce wear
any good dressing but would go meanly clad, not beseem-
ing her degree, unless her husband, or children, urged her
to wear better garments ; a rare virtue in a worldly (secular)
woman, in which few do match her in these wicked times
of pride and vanity. Moreover, she was so charitable unto
the poor and needy persons, that she would give away
whatever she could in the house that was any way to be

248 CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

spared ; yea, it hath chanced that when she had nothing
to give she would beg her daughters' gowns or petticoats
to give away, saying she would give them better, but they
being worldly given, would not yield to her herein. More-
over, her devotion to God was such that commonly she
kept a priest in the house when she could, besides receiving
of others that came.

She having three daughters only, it pleased God at
length to send her a son, at the time of the coming in of
King James. Which child was born with a red cross on
his forehead, very perfect and plain to be seen, which
continued until he was five years of age, and even to this
day he beareth the print as it were of a chalice behind one
of his ears. She had also after him another son, so that
having five children, they were brought up virtuously ; but
the persecution still increasing, their father for fear of losing
all from his son (for before he cared not so much when he
had but daughters) yielded to go to church and remained
out of the Church for a long time. And yet he omitted
not his former devotions but lived still in fear of doing ill,
and at' length as he was one day revolving with himself his
present case, out of a great sorrow for his fall and relapse
in his former constancy, he made a full resolution to enter
again into the Church and never more to fall although he
should die for his conscience. This he indeed performed,
and to see the goodness of God towards him, it was high
time, for presently after he was reconciled he fell sick and
so continued for the space of nine weeks ; then, having
received all the Sacraments, he made a holy end. After
whose death the good mother endeavoured to bring her
children into the Church, for as yet they were not Catholics ;
following the liberty of the time, because their father did
so. But notwithstanding Almighty God showed that He
had care both of him and them, for in whatsoever worldly
vanity they began to take any great delight, commonly
they were crossed, so that they could not but evidently
mark the same.

CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 249

The mother, therefore, labouring to have them (her
children) reconciled, this her daughter, Elizabeth, was the
first that entered into the Church, by reason that a Catholic
maid who loved her dearly did often and earnestly desire
of her to think upon the state of her soul, and entreated
her also to read the Book of Resolution, which she did, and
thereupon became so afflicted and tormented in mind that
bursting forth into tears she promised within herself to
begin a new life so soon as she could get any opportunity,
and then was reconciled upon St Peter ad Vincula's day,
after which she was very fearful of coming into trouble for
her conscience ; therefore she desired of her mother to give
her leave to keep her Easter abroad. This was granted
her, and being one day talking with the gentlewoman of
the house where she then resided, they fell into discourse
of the state and happiness of religious life, and thereupon
she presently felt within herself an earnest desire to forsake
the world and to become a religious, which she disclosed to
the gentlewoman, who told her that seven miles off lived
Sir Edward Parham, who was akin to her and would
willingly for her sake assist in any such business. So they
concluded to gro both together on Easter Mondav afoot
privately, having only one man with them. Notwithstand-
ing it did hail and rain both as they went and came, yet
to her it was the delightfullest journey that ever she had,
through the great desire of religion which God had put
into her ; and coming thither they found a captain who
was then going into the Low Countries, by whom a letter
was sent to procure her a place either here or else at St
Benedict's at Brussels, which was no small comfort to her.
But coming afterwards home to her mother she would not
disclose what had happened, until her place was procured.
In the meantime there happened an accident worthy of
memory. There was a youth dwelling in the same town,
of seventeen or eighteen years old, who was often seen to
go into the church and pray before the old image that had
remained there of former times ; as also he would always

250 CHKONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

make a cross in the beginning of all his writings, although
he had neither friend nor aquaintance that was a Catholic.
It happened that being extremely troubled with the tooth-
ache he came unto one of Mr Godwin's daughters, who
had some skill in curing that molestation, to seek for a
remedy ; who indeed helped him and made him well of it.
In the meantime this other daughter, Elizabeth, once
going forth into the garden, he seeing her alone came
unexpected unto her and desired to speak with her. Which
she perceiving was much abashed, and told him she durst
not be seen to speak with any man alone.

He thereupon told her that in this case she was bound
in conscience to do it because it concerned the salvation of
a soul. She hearing that, bade him go into an arbour that
was there and she would come to him ; which he did and,
so with an afflicted heart he freely and openly disclosed
his mind unto her, desiring her with much discourse for
the love of God to help him to a priest with all speed, for
that he was every night in fear to be strangled to death by
the devil. She replied again that perhaps it might be but
his imagination, but he affirmed it was not, but true as he
said. And, indeed, all did see apparently (clearly) that he
did consume away and looked like death. His friends not
knowing the cause, gave out that he was poisoned. But
at length after many hindrances and crosses passed, she
procured him his heart's desire, appointing him one evening
to come to her mother's house, where she lodged him all
night, and in the morning about the break of day she
caused the priest to steal secretly into his chamber, where
he did reconcile him and celebrated Mass, none being
present nor did any afterwards know of it but these three,
to wit, the priest, himself, and she. It was a wonderful
thing to see from that time forward what an unspeakable
joy and comfort his soul possessed, not being able to
restrain it, but that one might plainly perceive that he was
strangely altered. Wherefore, getting letters of recom-
mendation to bring him acquainted with the Fathers of the

cio^^

yaj

Ladv Catherine Stewart.

Wife of William Maxwell of Nithsdale.

From PLTlrait nt EeeringhuM.

[Face page 250.

CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 251

Society of Jesus, he departed towards London, and they
lovingly entertained him, so that after many things passing,
which it would be too long to rehearse, they sent him over
to St Omer's, and at length he was admitted into the
Society as he desired, where through the great goodness
of our Lord he profited so much in perfection that at his
profession a miraculous sign was seen, and he is now
accounted one of saintly life.

But to return to our Elizabeth ; once she discovered
her mind unto religion, both her ghostly father and other
priests dissuaded her from it what they could, saying that
perhaps it was not a right vocation, and that she might do
more good in the world, which was a sore trial to hinder
her. But the providence of God provided her a remedy
when her ghostly father's help failed, even by a stranger.
For at that time there chanced to come into the city of
Wells a young man, a physician, who had lived among the
Jesuits and was very fervent in spiritual things. He lodging
not far from their house, one day espied the three sisters
walking together in the garden, and thereupon Almighty
God moved him to write a spiritual letter unto them,
wherein he praised much the state of virginity, which liked
her very well, and about the same time, her mother being
sick, he had good occasion to come to the house for to
minister physic unto her. Whereupon this, our principiant
in religion, got means to speak with him privately and
disclosed her mind to him, what a great desire she had to
be a religious, and how all dissuaded her from it. He then,
contrary to them all, animated her therein, and to assure
her it was the best step she could take he would still, when
he came to her, bring with him some one point or more
which he had gathered out of the Holy Scripture or good
doctrine to confirm her in her vocation, insomuch that he
brought her twenty-two points in all, and did in effect so
confirm her in that good resolution that nobody afterwards
could remove her. Among other things, in their confer-
ences together he told her a thing that happened to himself,

252 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

which, because it shows the power of beads and other
hallowed things against the devil, we will here set down.
He said how once coming into the entrance of a town he
espied the devil sitting upon a stake in the likeness of a
black crow with a dark mist about him, which led him soon
to suspect who that crow or raven was. Wherefore he
took up stones and flung them at him. But the foul fiend
cared not for them nor stirred at all for all that he flung.
He seeing this took out his beads and flung them at him,
and then he presently flew from thence on the top of a
plum-tree which was in an orchard thereby, and thus
taking the upper branch which came from the body of the
tree with his claw, he made no more ado but with his black
claw took the whole tree by that sole branch, and wreathed
it once or twice about and thereupon plucked it up by the
root and laid the whole tree there along pulled out of the
earth, and so vanished away, leaving a filthy stink behind
him. After that the people round about came wondering
to see the tree so plucked up and laid flat above man's
power.

Now to go on with our young gentlewoman, Mrs (Miss)
Elizabeth Godwin : she having news that her place was
granted in this monastery of St Monica's, was very joyful,
and being immovable to all dissuasion, she got over seas
by fit and convenient means and chanced to come in the
company of the Lord Morley's daughter, Frances Parker,
and of our Sister Clare Copley, who came directly also to
our cloister, and on arriving at Brussels, they left Lord
Morley's daughter, who was deputed to St Benedict's
Monastery, and came both here to Louvain ; so they were
both received, and this one having first the place was first
professed upon St Francis's day, the other stayed longer,
as we shall declare in due place.

This year, 1622, died Mary Thorowgood, lay-sister, of a
new disease which then reigned in the town, and she being
the gate-sister, and serving in the father's house, had taken
the disease of some that came to the gate, for it was

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 253

somewhat infectious. She had ever since her being in the
cloister been a good soul, of a sweet disposition and good
nature, so that she pleased all, both those of abroad and
those within, carrying herself with great edification. For
God led her by so easy a way that she had little difficulty
in well-doing, insomuch that she would sometimes desire
to do a little penance ; she said she had no difficulty besides.
She now had a short and speedy death, but very painful
for the time it lasted, which was about a week. So she
ended happily her days, having been four years professed,
and God assisted us so well that none else died here of
that disease, though some were sick.

Upon the last of July, this year, was professed a nun,
Sister Agnes Tasburgh, daughter to Sir John Tasburgh
of Flixton in Norfolk, who was a hot Protestant, but her
mother was a good Catholic, and daughter to the old Lady
Tasburgh, also a good Catholic, but in her youth brought
up a heretic, for being daughter of the Lord Delawarre who
was a great Protestant ; when she came to years of marriage
she loved one Mr Cressy, who, being a gentleman, yet
waited upon the Lord Delawarre. Wherefore he under-
standing of his daughter's affection towards him, put him
away, and compelled her to marry one Mr Weema, by whom
she had one or two children. But he then dying, she
followed her former love and married Mr Cressy before
her father had knowledge thereof, and this Mr Cressy
having been beyond seas, was become a Catholic, and so
made his wife one too.

But before we proceed further, it shall not be amiss to
relate a memorable thing. There lived in the Lord
Delawarre's house a waiting gentlewoman named Mrs
Marren, who governed the house and brought up the
children, for she was a wise and discreet woman ; who
being one morning early risen saw standing at her chamber
window one dressed in a priest's habit, with a corner cap
on his head, whereat she wondered, knowing men went
not so now in England, and having put on her clothes she

254 CHllONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

went to him. Who presently turned towards her and
showed her a book open wherein were drawn two ways,
one towards heaven and the other towards hell, and withal
in that book he showed her all the sins she had committed.
Then he spoke and said : "If you continue to live here
you shall go thither, to wit unto hell ; but if you go to live
with Mrs Cressy you shall go to heaven ; " and thereupon
vanished away out of her sight. She reflecting hereupon
would by no means stay with the young lord and his
Puritan lady (the old lord being dead), although they much
desired her, but went to live with Mrs Cressy, and so
became a Catholic. After that she led a very virtuous and
exemplary life, living till she was a hundred years old.
Mrs Cressy had some children by him (her second husband),
among whom was this daughter, mother to our Sister
Agnes, and it chanced afterwards that she married her
unto a nephew of her husband that then was. For, Mr
Cressy dying, she married again to Sir Thomas Tasburgh,
and so they agreed that Sir John Tasburgh, a man of a
fair living, should match with the daughter of hers, Mrs
(Miss) Lettice Cressy, mother to our Sister.

But to say something also now of the old Lady
Tasburgh : she was naturally very liberal, and joined
thereunto the virtue of charity, always doing some good
deed or other, and among these it was no small charity
which she exercised towards little children, that were laid
at her door. It happened once that when this our Sister
was in the house of her grandmother, betimes at break of
day she heard the parrot which did hang in the porch of
the house to make such a noise that she wondered what he
ailed, and so bade one of the maids to go and see what the
matter was with him. She going down found a little
foundling laid at the door of the house in the porch, which
made the parrot to keep such a stir. After that, going to
my Lady Tasburgh and telling her of it, presently she
bade them go and take up the child, and to one of her sons,
that was in the house, " Go forth," said she, "and buy all

CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

255

the clothes that are necessary for the child, and brincr me
also a nurse for it." With that he rapped out an *oath
protesting that if she took this course all the children in the
country would be brought to her, as one had a little before
been brought ; but she answered, if they came all she would
take them. She would not leave her charities, and made
this child to be christened conditionally if it had not been
before. She was also very devout at her prayers, and
would be merry in company. Yet going from them at her
set times would presently put herself in the presence of
God, and oftentimes with tears pray fervently. Her
daughter also was a good Catholic, but her husband. Sir
John, a most perverse heretic, yet he permitted his wife to
keep her religion, but would have all his children to be
brought up in heresy. Yet Almighty God ordained so
well that in time they came all to be Catholics, except only
one daughter, who, having been converted as the others,
yet by her husband was perverted again.

And to come now to our good Sister Agnes : she was
the eldest child, and the most beloved of her father. He
brought her up in heresy, but coming to years of discretion,
God Almighty so enlightened her that she determined to
follow her mother's religion, and was secretly reconciled to
the Church, and that she might continue a Catholic, she
fell in love with a French gentleman who was a Catholic
and lived in her father's house as his companion. Coming
out of France he lived for a time with Sir John Tasburgh
and would speak sometimes of the Catholic religion to her,
which made her so to affect him that she would willingly
have married him, that her father might not match her
with a heretic. But so soon as Sir John had notice that
his daughter loved him, he, mistrusting that she might be
of her mother's religion, presently put the French gentle-
man out of his house, and forbade her to speak with him,
or go to him where he was. He also first, by all the fair
means possible, endeavoured to make her renounce her re-
ligion, for he loved her exceedingly and promised that if she

256 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

would do so he was content to give her alone half his
estate. But seeing that no fair means prevailed, he was
very angry, and determined by severity to make her yield
unto his will. Whereupon, one day he called her to him, in
the presence of her mother, and was so sharp and wrathful
with her that, at last, he said he would cut her tongue out of
her head if she spoke one word more in defence of her
religion, and would not renounce the same. But for all
that she would not yield, whereupon he turned her away,
bidding her to depart from him and never to expect one
penny from him, as though she were not his child. This
happened upon St Agnes's day, which made her afterwards
take the name of Agnes at her profession.

She went then from her father's sight, but lived secretly
in the house for some time and passed a hard Lent, her
father having forbidden any to relieve her, insomuch that
she was glad to live upon the skins or heads of herrings, or
what other scraps she could get, until that the old Lady
Tasburgh, her grandmother, sent for her, and understanding
that she had a mind to be a religious (for God in this time
of trouble and misery had given her a call thereto), she
willingly provided her of a sufficient portion for it, and so
sent her over to Dr Kellison, President of the English
College. He provided her place here in our cloister because
she would not be at Douay with her cousin, for that she
lived then in an open monastery not enclosed. And so she
came hither, and after her time of probation made her holy
profession at the age of twenty-five years, changing her
name to Agnes.

Upon the 8th day of October, in the year 1623, was
professed Sister Mary Lamb, daughter of Richard Lamb,
Esquire, who being descended of a good house in the North
country, his ancestors lost their means in the civil wars that
were then in England between the royal houses of Lancaster
and York. But yet some part of the estate remaining at
the death of his elder brother, it rightly belonged to him.
He notwithstanding could not get it by law in regard that

Lady Winifred Herbert.

Daughter of the Marquis of Powis, Countess of William, fifth Eail of Niih,-dale.

Fnm Piirtrait at Kcerinfiham.

{Fact pagt 246.

(

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 257

he was a Catholic, for his adversaries prevailed against ricrht
and him. Wherefore he lived with the Lord Montague,
being a gentleman belonging many years unto him. His
wife's mother was sister of Mr Geoffrey Pool and niece to
Cardinal Pool (Pole), of which descent we have already
made mention. This couple were both very constant and
zealous Catholics, great harbourers of priests, besides keep-
ing one always of residence in the house. It chanced at
one time they had no less than ten priests at table. This
their daughter, Mary, from her childhood had some inclina-
tion to be a religious, but youthful delight in vain things
made her delay to resolve herself wholly ; yet she would
often pray earnestly to God that He would provide for her in
that state which He should please, as indeed He did. For
it happened that her cousin, Mary Pool (Pole), coming out
of France into England, as we have declared, to settle her
fortune, intending to come into these Low Countries to be
a religious, she lodged in her cousin Lamb's house, where
it happened that she began to try this their daughter, Mary,
whether she had any mind to religion, and therefore would
often speak to her in praise of religious life, and told her it
was not so hard as people make it, and how they lived very
contented in that state, and, finally, she concluded, being
unwilling to persuade her unless she liked it herself, saying
thus : " But you have no mind thereunto." Whereupon
she assured her and affirmed that she had, and was willing
to come over. With this she told her parents, who were
very glad that their eldest daughter would give herself to
God. So she came over with her cousin, Sister Mary Pool,
and lived a good while (as) a scholar, but at length was
professed at the age of twenty-three years.

The same year was professed Sister Elizabeth Lumbos
(al. Lumbart), lay-sister, daughter of one Francis Lumbos.
a yeoman, dwelling in the city of Wells, a good, honest man
and well-minded (towards the faith), so that our Lord did
him the favour that he was reconciled a fortnight before
his death, and died happily ; as also her mother dying ten

258 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

years after was reconciled about half a year before (her
death). She being then at the age of twenty years, but
no Catholic, the Divine Providence so ordained that one
Mrs Moore, of whom we shall speak in due place, whom
she had served a year before, was moved to send for her to
London (hearing that her mother was dead) for to bring
her over with her and make her a Catholic. So she came
to St Omer's and served her, and was reconciled to the
Church by a Father of the College who assisted her very
well. For having always had a great horror of confession,
he helped her so with asking her almost all, that she was
exceeding glad to have passed that fearful brunt.

Yet she (Elizabeth Lumbos) had no mind to be a
religious, although her mistress would fain have allured her
thereunto, until that once reading of St Monica's life and
thinking that we were of her Order because our monastery
bore her name, she got a desire to be among us. Presently
her mistress most willingly procured her place here, having
a young child of hers brought up here from the age of
seven years, of whom we shall speak at her profession.
Notwithstanding, she lived still at St Omer's three years,
and then having stayed so long since her place was granted,
we, having lay-sisters enough, denied to receive her ; but
she persisted a fortnight in the town still earnestly desiring
to be received, until at length our Rev. Father said once
to her to try her, that because she was importunate
perhaps her calling was not right. She, hearing this, that
night prayed most heartily unto our Lord that if her calling
was not truly from Him, our Superior might never admit
her, so wholly resigned herself to be content as God should
ordain. Being in this good disposition, the very next day
our Reverend Mother sent for her, and took her without
any more ado ; so she now made her profession at the age
of twenty-five years.

In the year 1624, died Sister Mary Winter, converse,
having lived a good virtuous life in holy religion, and
suffered much, both outwardly by the weakness of her

CHEONICLE OF ST MONICxVS 259

bones, which, as we said at her profession, had been broken
at nurse, as also by continual desolation of mind, which
she bore with singular patience. Yea, she was so resigned
to God's will in all her crosses and afflictions, that she
often affirmed she would never wish that God should lead
her by any other way than this of desolation, because she
thought it was best for her natural disposition. She also
mortified her own will and inclinations so well that we were
much edified in her conversation, and suffered also patiently
rebuke and reprehensions when they chanced unto her.
So that having passed a rich time, though short, in this
holy Order, it pleased our Lord to take her to himself by
sudden but not unprovided death (as also her mother, i\lr
Talbot's daughter, had died suddenly), for she, being in
the infirmary, weak and ill, we thought she had but her old
weakness. She carrying exteriorly very patiently her pains,
upon the day of St Peter's Feast came our Rev. Father to
her in the morning, but she said she had nothing to confess,
because she had been (to confession) not long before, and
•said withal she felt exceedingly ill. She communicated,
it being holy day, and after dinner upon a sudden, sitting
not far from the table, she gave a great shriek, whereupon
they ran to her in haste to see what vehement qualm was
•come, and presently she gave up the ghost, so l^at when
our Reverend Mother was called and others, she was
found to be stark dead to this life, for to live, as we may
well hope, in a better, where her celestial Spouse so
suddenly called her, having been almost seven years pro-
fessed, and twenty-five years of age. Our Lord pleased to
end her temporal prenticeship, changing it into the eternal
liberty of God's children in the land of the living.

This year, 1624, about Easter our Church and Choir
were wholly finished, so that we removed there in Holy
Week and sang the Tenebrae Matins first in it, as also
Mass and our service ever after. Our Church was hallowed
by the Archbishop of Macklin (Mechlin) upon Trinity
.Sunday the same year, placing in the High Altar relics of

260 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

the holy martyrs of the Theban legion, St Mauritius's
companions, whose feast in September the Bishop ordained
we should solemnize with a duplex feast, as also the yearly
Dedication of our Church upon the next Sunday after the
Octave of the holy Apostles St Peter and St Paul, in
respect that between Trinity Sunday and that time there
is seldom a week to be had free from occurring feasts, as
that of Corpus Christi and Midsummer (St John the
Baptist). Moreover, this summer the rest of our house
was accommodated, as the Refectory was taken out in full
length and placed as now it is ; also the little cloister that
leadeth to the Choir made as it is, except that it was not
paved that year with tiles, but only with bricks, which was
discommodious in our going to the Choir. The work-
chamber also was made up, with the cellar under it as now
it is in place, where before the grate was ; and our Reverend
Mother's chamber and two chimneys beaten down and
taken away, making these rooms. Moreover, we made the
sick-house as now it is, which before was the Father's
house. Besides this, the great fair room over the kitchen,
which before was our work-chamber, was now made into
cells. Thus most of our house was accommodated as now
it is this year, except the new bakehouse and washhouse
were not built until afterwards, as we shall show in due
place.

Upon the 19th of June the same year, 1624, died Sister
Mary Welch, who had been a religious strict in the
observance of the Order, and very careful in whatever she
was employed, as also had been very laborious at St
Ursula's although she was but weak in body, and brought
a great portion to the house. She spared not herself in
washing, sweeping, and other suchlike works, as also here
in our monastery being of the very first that came, and
having the office of Sacristan, it happened one time that
by reason either that some were sick or had other
hindrances, she saw none could come to Matins at four in
the morning (as they thus used to do at first, being sa

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S :>61

few), and it being her office to call them up, she, rather
than our cloister should stand one day without saying
Matins publicly, set herself without any more ado in the
forementioned little choir, and began to read the Matins
alone in two kind of pauses, so as it were to make the two
choirs, and so read out herself a.lone a long ferial Matins.
She was of a very hasty and choleric nature, although she
much bridled it ; nevertheless, sometimes it broke forth,
but this defect she made up for with soon acknowledging
her fault, as also was always thereby so humbled in herself
and shed so many tears for her hasty nature that she made
^ood amends for it. So also at her death she acknowledged
her fault with such humility and hearty sorrow that we
were well edified, and so she rested happily in our Lord to
enjoy the fruit of labours and combats in the overcoming
of herself.

This same year, 1624, was professed in our new church
Sister Clare Copley, daughter to Mr Anthony Copley, the
third son of Lord Thomas Copley. This gentleman being
a younger brother and always a Catholic, sought to raise
his fortune by gaining the favour of great men ; wherefore
at the first coming in of King James he had notice of the
treason then plotted, whereof he unwisely made himself one
of the accomplices, and when all the whole matter was
revealed to him, he went and disclosed it to the Council,
thinking to gain some great recompense for his labour.
But they, seeing he had so far engaged himself in the
matter, proclaimed him traitor with Sir Griffin Markham
who was in the said plot. Which exterior cross turned
out notwithstanding to his greater spiritual good, for
seeing that hopes in men failed, he gave himself after
his coming on this side the seas to devotion, and took a
voyage to the Holy Land, together with Mr Ambrose
Vaux, and coming to Jerusalem they were both knighted
at our Lord's Sepulchre, as the manner is, that when such
pilgrims go there as can show sufficient proofs of noble
extraction and capable of knighthood, if they will under-

262 CHEONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

take to observe the points there proposed for to defend the
honour of God in the manner set down, the Guardian of
the Franciscan Convent there dubbeth them knights,
after they have performed their devotions visiting the holy
places. In their return home he died by the way, and Sir
Ambrose Vaux coming home brought news of his death.
But one thing we must not omit ; to wit, that presently
after his banishment the Lords of the Council sent for his
elder brother, William Copley, and compelled him to
reward his brother for the good service he had done, as
they said, to the State, and obliged him to add about the
worth of ^20 a year to the former yearly annuity which he
paid him before ; as also ordained the whole annuity should
be given to his wife, so long as she lived, who was a
gentlewoman of the Isle of Wight. So after the manner
of politicians, they were content on the one side to reward
out of the other man's purse, and on the other side to
disgrace him in the sight of the world.

But his brother, being a Catholic, durst not resist, and
withal extended his charity further, which was to take his
youngest daughter to keep of his own goodwill, she being
about six or seven years of age, only because her mother
did not care much for the child, but loved best the elder.
He therefore first took this one away and afterwards got
the elder into his hands upon composition of retaining back
some £12 a. year of the compelled yearly reward, being
glad to make this bargain, as seeking only the good of
both his nieces' souls. For their mother living at this time
in and out of the church, having married another husband,
he feared the children might be cast away ; therefore he
took them to bring up. But their mother after many
crosses suffered by her other husband, at length was recon-
ciled before her death, and ended her life a Catholic.

This younger daughter was named then Elizabeth,
When she came to fit years our Lord gave her an earnest
desire to become a religious. Wherefore she wrote sO'
effectually that her place was granted here, and her cousin,.

[Fuce page 2t)3.

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 263

young Sir William Copley, who was then married, promised
to give her portion to religion, for he loved her dearly, as
also her uncle, having brought her up as his own child.
So they sent her over by such means as herself desired.
But Almighty God assisted her well by the way in an
occasion that happened, whereby she might have incurred
great danger both of soul and body if she had not showed
the grace of God to be in her, and that her virtuous educa-
tion had not been in vain. So, at length, she arrived at
Brussels, and was kindly entertained by our good friend,
Dr Clement, although she was not akin to him, yet he
furthered her to religion and gave her ^lo for a gift at
her profession, which she made at the age of twenty-one
years, upon St John Baptist's Decollation, changing her
name from Elizabeth to Clare.

Upon Michaelmas Day, the same year, 1624, were
professed two lay-sisters, Catherine Colins and Alexia
Hobdy. The elder was daughter of one Francis Colins,
an honest man and a good Catholic, who suffered imprison-
ment and other molestations for his conscience. This his
daughter, Catherine, was much given to virtue, having a
great desire to religion, but deeming she had not sufficient
means to help her to so great a happiness. She, notwith-
standing, agreed with some other devout maids, by the
consent of priests to make a vow of chastity, and so to live
virtuously in the world. This she did at the age of twenty
years, and her desire to religion continuing still, at length,
about the time when Sister Ursula Gifford came over, Mr
Standford (Stanford), our Sister Frances's father, writ a
letter and procured her place here for a lay-sister, com-
mending much unto us her virtue. So she came over with
her and was admitted, making her profession at the age of
thirty-four or thirty-five years to her great joy. for she
thought that being far in years no place would admit her ;
but it was God's will.

Sister Alexia was the daughter of Thomas Hobdy.
Her parents were no Catholics, but well-mmded and ot

264 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

good moral life. She also went to church and was devout
in that religion, but it pleased God to give her the first
notion of being a Catholic by hearing an heretical bishop
preach with what reverence and fervour they ought to
receive their communion ; which made her conjecture that
surely it should be more than bread ; and hearing the belief
of Catholics about the Blessed Sacrament she liked it very
well, and thought it was good reason to prepare themselves
worthily thereunto. Afterwards she went to serve the
Lady Jarningam (Jerningham), and in that house lived
her own cousin, who was a priest, but she knew it not. He,
notwithstanding, took care of her and instructed her in the
Catholic religion, and afterwards reconciled her to the
Church at the age of thirteen years. She also soon after
got a great desire to be a religious, hearing them speak of
nuns, and told her cousin of it ; who answered that she
was yet too young and that her friends would be displeased
if she went from them. Therefore he bade her stay awhile,
and he hoped to make her mother a Catholic, as indeed he
did. She continued still her mind, yet wavering, by reason
that worldly pleasures allured her, but at length grace
prevailed, and she fully resolved to be a religious. There-
fore she desired again of her cousin that he would help her
to get over. He asked her where she would get means.
She answered, that her father, she doubted not, would give
her enough to be a lay-sister ; he then asked her what
Order she would choose. She answered, the Poor Clares.
But he said it was too hard for her and asked if she would
not be content to go where her former mistress's niece was,
to wit. Sister Magdalen Throckmorton, for she had before
served her aunt. She said : Yes, willingly. So he
promised to assist her, and just about that time our
Reverend Mother wrote into England to have some good
strong maid sent over that could do good service for a lay-
sister, because about that time we thought to have set up
a brewhouse (but afterwards that design became frustrate,
yet it was now of effect to receive this poor soul, who had

CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S 265

so long desired this happiness). The aforesaid priest
understanding of this letter, which was sent unto Sister
Magdalen Throckmorton's friends, not far from whom she
lived, thereupon sent over his cousin, and at her arrival we
received her willingly, because she was a good servant.
So she made her profession at the age of twenty-six years,
changing her name from Elizabeth to Alexia, for devotion
she had to this Saint.

This same year, 1624, died Sister Margaret Tremain.
She was a good religious, fine in exterior things, ever ready
to help and do what good she could, and being of a mild,
sweet nature, was much beloved in the community. Our
Lord took her away by a short sickness, for she got a sore
ague which then reigned, and so in the space of a week she
was well in health and dead, arriving by a speedy passage
into eternal life, as we may hope, to enjoy her fill of that
which in this life she wanted ; for she could not here get
the gift of prayer, and therefore resigned herself to God's
will, and was the more diligent in outward things. She
had been professed twenty-six years and was fifty- two years
of age, being of the second company that came from St
Ursula's.

Upon the 27th of the same month died another of the
elders, Sister Susan Laborne (Leyburn), who being a
martyr's daughter had herself suffered a long martyrdom,
for she was very sickly ever since she came to this
monastery, being of the second company that came from
St Ursula's. Her pains were most of the colic and in her
side, which she suffered with great patience, and woukl
oftentimes say that God had sent her that which she could
best bear ; for, being of a very choleric nature, she could
not, she said, have made so much profit of other crosses.
She was very diligent still to do some profitable thing, as
writing of good things and working some fine thing for the
Church, having skill in many fine works, and could not
abide idleness. For she found that busying herself siill
in doing something or other made her pains more tolerable

266 CHRONICLE OF ST MONICA'S

(a good example for those that are sickly), except some-
times they were so great that she could do nothing at all.
So that oftentimes she remained the greatest part of the
night upon her knees, finding most ease in that posture.

But, at length, about a year before her death, her many
pains became so great, that she said they were rather
torments than pains, lying for the most part bedridden,
and so ill that we were fain to watch with her all night,
and because it continued so long almost all the convent
had occasion to exercise this charity towards her by turns,
as they were appointed. In the end she died in most
extreme torment, so that her body therewith remained
crooked after her death. But being still resigned to God's
will, her torments ended, as we may hope, with eternal
repose. She had been twenty-five years professed.

INDEX

Acre, siege of, 222

Acts of English Martyrs, 22

Agazzarri, Father, S.J., 93

Agincourt, 219

Aldwin, William, 16

Allen, Cardinal, 20, 51, 146, 171

Catharine, 17, 18, 20, 32-3, 59, 69,
123

George, of Rosshall, 20, 32

Helen, 17, 18, 20, 32, 34

Mary, 93

Mrs, 13, 14, 32, 69, 70, 72-3, 154,
197
Altham, Mary, 158-9
Anne, Dame, Benedictine nun at Pon-

toise, 216
Anstruther, Sir William, 185
Antwerp, x
Ara Coeli Convent, 51
Arden, Edward, 134

Thomas, 54, 134
Arundel, Anne, Countess of, 22, 54, 78
Arundell of Wardour, Lord, 133
Ashley, Ralph, 184
Aske, Robert, 230
Aston, Sir Arthur, 92

Catherine, 130

Sir Edward, of Tixall Hall, 135

Gertrude {nee Sadler), 136-8
Astons of Tixall, 125-40
Athena Oxoniensis, 10
Atherstone Benedictine nuns, ix
Augustinian Canonesses Regular (see
English Canonesses of St
Augustine
Austin Canons of Bolton, 128

2«7

Baethorpl family, 18, 179 et seq.,
203 et seq.

Barbara, 211

Frances, 203, 233

Grace (Lady), 189, 244

Professed, 203 ; appears before
Council at York, 204 ; imprison-
ment at York, 205-8

Ralph, S.J., 203

Sir Ralph, 203, 209 ; death, 210

Sir William, 185, 203, 212, 233
Baker, Mr, friend of Thomas Copley,

119
Baker, Father Augustine, 227
Baldwin, Sister Alice, i

Father, S.J., 80
Barber, Francis, 41

John, 41
Barnes, Robert, 41, 51, 83

Stephen, 40, 121
Barram (? Barham), Mr, presents St

Monica's with £,\oo, 119
Barrett, Dr Richard, 93
Bassets of Drayton, 18
Bathon, J., 1 1
Beaconsfield Manor, i
Beckett, Abbess, of Syon, i ii
Bedford, J., 11
Bedingfield family, 221

Francis, of Redlingfield, 240

Helen (afterwards Augustine, of
Austin), 238, 240-1
Bedyll, Thomas, 8
Benedictine nuns, ix, x
Benefactors' Book, xi, 20, 220
Bere, Richard, 8, 9

268

INDEX

Berington, Agatha, 48

Berkeley, Robert, 184

Berkely, Henry, Lord, 19

Best, Mary, enters St Ursula's^ 32 ;
enters St Monica's, 1 19 ; pro-
fessed, 157 ; her sister Perpetua
is professed, 196
Perpetua, 196

Birkett, Rev, George, 171

Birnand, William, of Brimham, 181,
203

Blase, Sister Frances, 34, no

Blount, Elizabeth, 142

Bludder, Sir Thomas, 88

Blundell family, of Little Crosby, 18,
138, 142
Ann, Abbess of the Poor Clares, 141
Margaret (afterwards Winifred), 140,

153-4, 193

Richard, of Crosby Hall, 138-9

Richard, S.J., 140

William, 139-41, I53
Blundeston, Laurence, 55
Bodey, Richard, 42
Boleyn, Alice, 219

Anne, 143, 219
Bolt, John, 42, 43, 147, 150
Bonner, Bishop, 13, 223
Booth, Thomas, of Killingholme, 173
Botiler, John, 142

Braddocks, 48 ; fruitless search at, 54
Bradenham Manor, 142
Bradshaw, Anne, of Haigh Hall, 140

The regicide, 147
Brass, Richard, 215
Bretton, Sir Henry, 88
Bridgett, Father, xii, 216
Bridgettines, Order of, ix, x, xii
Brittain, Helen, 148, 15 1-2

Rev, William, 148
Bromfield family, 86, 107

Anne, 34, 78, 86, 107-9

Mrs, " Mother of the Maids," 86
Brook(e) family, 190-4

Mrs, conversion of, 191

Sir Robert, 190, 239

Susan, 190-3, 239
Brookesby (Brooksbie), Mrs, 78, 116,

118
Brothers of Common Life, 12

Browne, Abbess, 143

A spy, 171
Bruges, xi, 5, 11, 196

Chronicle^ 46, 49
Brussels, Benedictine nuns at, ix, x
Buckley, Father (see Jones, Griffith)
Burnham Abbey, i

Manor, r
Burrows, Elizabeth, 159
Burrow(e)s, Frances, 17, 33, 77
Burton Castle, 228
Butler family, 225-6
Buyx, B., II

" Bye, The," Conspiracy, 90
Bygod, Francis, 15
Byrd, the composer, 147

Callowden Castle, 20
Campian, Edmund, 94
Cantelupe, house of, 2
Cape, Mr, 200
Carew, George, 215
Carews of Mohun's Ottery, 215
Carill, Sir William, 11
Carisbrooke Dominicanesses, x
Carthusian martyrs, xiii, 3-4, 6-8
Cary, Elinor, 143

Lady, 162
Catesby, the conspirator, 182

Sister, 185
Cecil's Powder Plot, 23, 184
Challoner's List of Martyrs^ 22, 41
Charles L, 147, 174, 215, 225
Charles H., 225
Charterhouse monks, persecution of,

xiii, 3-4, 6-8
Chasleton House, 183
Chauncey, Maurice, 7
Chester Castle, 139
Christian Rules ^ The^ 128
Chronicle of St Monica's, x
Chronicles, preservation of, x
Chudleigh, xii
Civil War, 137
Clapton (see Clopton)
Clare, Sister (see Copley, Elizabeth)
Clarence, Duke of, 241
Clarendon, Earl of, 91
Clement VII L, 51
Clement family, xiv, 25-6

INDEX

269

Clement, Dr Caesar, 237
Helen, 8g, 112
Dr John, xiv, 3, 5, 9, 25, 62, 73, 116,

121-2, 263 ; death of, 10
Mother Margaret {nee Giggs), x-xiv ;
early life, 3 ; ministers to im-
prisoned monks, 4, 25 ; enters
St Ursula's, 25 ; admitted to
religious profession, 27 ; objec-
tions to appointmentas Superior,
29 ; jubilee, 34 ; blindness and
release from office, "i,"] ; leaves
St Ursula's, 68 ; work at St
Monica's, 73 ; passages from
Sister Shirley's MS. concerning,
95-100 ; death, 6-7, 122
Clere family, xiv
Clififord family, 125-38
Elizabeth, 125, 127, 131, 155
George, Earl of Cumberland, 125,

128, 156
Henry, 156
Clitherow, Anne, 16, 18, 21, 22, 120 ;
enters St Ursula's, 33 ; professed,

34

Ven. Margaret, 22, 168
Clopton family, 214-7, 244

Barbara, 134, 244, 246-7

Catharine, 134, 244-7

Lidwine, 134, 244, 246-7

Mary, 244, 246-7
Coffin, Jane, 45
Coke, Sir Edward, 53
Colins, Catherine, 263
College of Physicians, 9
Colman, Benedicta, of Staffordshire,

163
Colwich, Benedictine nuns, ix
Condition of Catholics under James /.,

Congregatio Laterano - Windese-

mensis, 12
Congregation of Windesem, 12
Congregations of Canons Regular, 12
Coniers, Father, S.J., 21
Conquest, Benedict, 133
Conspiracy known as " The Bye," 90
Constable family, 229 et seq.

Dorothy, 176 (see Lawson)

Grace, 211, 229

Constable, Sir Henry, 176

Lady, 205-7
Convents founded by English ladies

on the Continent, ix
Coombe, John, friend of Shakespeare,

214
Cooper, a priest, 158
Copley family, 18, 87-92, in- 12, 261

Elizabeth (afterwards Clare), 89-90,
252, 261, 263

Mary and Helen, 92. i n, 1 13-16, 121

Thomas, S.J., 92, 119

William, 112, 119, 262
Cornelius, John, S.J., 45
Cornwall, Edmund, Ear! of, 2
Comwallis, Lady Katharine, 148, 152

Sir Thomas, 145, 148
Corpus Christi anthem, 6, 7
Cotton, Elizabeth, 226

William, 89
Coughton Hall, 94
Council of Trent, 56
Cragge, Francis Stele, 1 1
Cressy, Mr, 253
Cross, Lady, 203
Crowley family (Essex), 47
Culloden, battle of, 49
Cumberland, George Clifford, third
Earl of, 125, 128, 156

D ACRES, 16
" Dan," the prefix, 9
Darbyshire, Dr, 168
Darcy, Sir Thomas, 217
Darlington, Poor Clares, ix
Daughters of St Teresa, ix
Davy, John, 8, 9
Deacon, Ellen, 33
Deane family, xiv
De Everingham family, 232
De Lacy family, 229
Delawarre, Lord, 253
Devereux, Lady Dorothy, 19

Penelope (see Rich)
Devonshire, Charles Blount, Earl

of, 50
Dictiomiry of Catholic Biography^ xii
Digby, Sir Edward, 185
Dirge-book, 16, 20, 220
Domesday Book, 135

270

INDEX

Dominicanesses, x
Dormer, Lord, 176, 228
Douay, English College at, 41, 42
Draycott, Philip, of Paynsley, 228
Drummond, Sir Maurice, 226

Penelope, 226
Dumford, Elizabeth, 33, 65, 68, 69, 163
Duresme, W, Cuth., 1 1
Durham, Archbishop of, 16

East Bergholt, Benedictine nuns, ix

Ecclesiastical Commission, 166

Edmondes, Sir Thomas, 19

Edward IV., 241

Edward VI., 3, 5> 26

Election of Prioress at St Ursula's, 56

Elizabeth, Queen, 15, 23, 83-4, 86, 147,
151, 200, 204, 222

England's Wor tides, 185

Englefield, Sir Francis, 224

English Canonesses at Neuilly, xi

English Canonesses of St Augustine,
foundation, x

English Illustrated Magazine, 215

English Martyrologe, 22

English nuns betake themselves to the
Continent, ix-x

Erasmus, 9

Escape of Father Gerard from Brad-
docks, 54

Esher, 9

Essex, persecution in, 47
Robert, Earl of, 19

Execution of Watson and Clark, 90

Exmew, William, 8

Eyre, Roland, of Hassop, 141

Fairfax, Thomas, Lord, 226

Farmer, Sir Richard, 78

Farnham Royal, i

Fawkes, Guy (see Gunpowder Plot)

Feast of the Immaculate Conception, 2

St Thomas Cantelupe, 2
Felton family, 16, 17

Frances, 16, 17, 32, 33, 120
Fenn family, 39

Rev. Father, first Chaplain of St
Monica's, 39, 40, 60, 67, 69, 70,
78, 121, 152
Feria, Jane Dormer, Duchess of, 176

Fermor, Mary, 224

Sir Richard, 224
Ferrers, Earl of, 18
Fitzponts family, 126
Flamborough Church, 229
Flodden Field, 129, 230
Foley, Brother, S.J., xii, 225
Foley's Records, 19, 55, 132, 140, 225
Forster family (see Foster)

Sir Richard, Lord, of Stokesley, 174
Fortescue family, 218 et seq.

Frances, 238-9

Sir Francis, 239

John, 240

Mary, 160, 240
Foster family, xiii, 167-174

Ann, strange will and death of,
168-9
Franciscan Martyrs (Hope), 55
Franciscan nuns, ix
Frank, John, a traitor, 52
Fromans, Catharine, 107
Fullerton, Lady Georgiana, 138

Gage family, 90, 91

Lucy, 18, 33
Gage, Dr, President of Douay, 127
Gardiner, Bishop, 10
Garnett, Helen, 17, 18, 33, 120

Henry, 19, 32, 52, 94, 109, 131

Margaret, 17, 18, 32-3, 65, 69, 84
Garrett, Father (see Gerard)

Mother Winifred, Prioress of St
Ursula's, 58
Gasquet, Abbot, xii, 231
Gastrell, Rev. Mr, 217
Gate, Thomas, of Brightwell, 2
Gatton manor-house rifled, 1 1 1
" Gentle Gifford," 200
Gerard, Father, S.J., xii, 19, 43, 50,

52-4, 87, 109, 183, 220
Gibson, Abbess Margaret, i

Rev. T. E., 140
Gibson's Crosby Records, 139
Gififord, Ann, 200

Bridget, 200

Ursula, 263

Walter, of Chillington, 200
Giggs, Margaret (see Clement, Mother
Margaret)

INDEX

271

Gillow, Joseph, xiii

Gillow's Dictionary of Catholic Bio-
graphy^ xii

" God Almighty's fool," reverent use
of the expression, 13

Godfrey, the famous Catholic lawyer,
197

Godwin family, of Wells, 217, 247
et seg.
Elizabeth, 247, 252

Goring, Lady, 228

Sir William, of Burton, 228

Goulding family, 197

Graftot, Talbot, 159

Grant, John, of Norbrook, 183

Grant of Queen Mary to Dr Clement
and Wm. Rastell, 1 1

Gravelines, ix

Gray, Lady, 16

Great Haywood, 135

Green, Thomas, 8, 9

Mrs, aunt of Mary Thursby, 194

Greenwood, William, 8, 9

Grene, Father, 172

Gresham, Sir Thomas, 88

Griggs, Augustine, 42

Groot, Gerard, 12

Guinnith, Mr, 81

Gunpowder Plot, 23, 94, 146, 160, 182,
214, 261

Gyggs family, xiv

Haggerston, Margaret, 140

William, 234
Hair-shirt of Blessed Thomas More, 3
Hale, John, 8
Hall, William, 9
Hamlet, supposed original of, 51
Hampton Lucy, 134
Hanson, Joseph S., 165
Harbert, Frances (see Herbert)
Harpsfield, Dr, 148
Hastings, Edward, 11

Henry, Earl of Huntingdon, 166-7,
169
Hatton, Jane, 116-8, 123

Ralph, 1 16-8
Haydock Papers, 139, 140
Hayward's Heath, xi, 1 1
Henry III., 135

Henry V., 12

Henry VII., 128

Henry VIII., 9, 46, 142, 224, 226, 230.

241-2
Henslow, Ralph, 221
Herald's Visitation of Buckingham-
shire, 2
Herbert, Sir Edward, 74

Frances, 34, 46, 74

Lady Lucy, 46, 163, 235
Hill, Dr, II
Hobdy, Alexia, 263
Hoddesdon, xi, 11
Hodgson, Anne, 177

Francis, of Kirkburne, 174
Hoghton, Mrs, widow of Thomas

Hoghton of Lea Hall, 139
Holbeach, 214

House, 182
Holman, Martha, 150
Hollis, John, 88
Holtby, Anthony, 176

(Holbie) Father, 78, 172, 177
Holy water, effect of, on Topcliffe's

horse, 84
H 00 family, xiv

Hope-Scott, Mary Monica, 236
Hornchurch, 3
Horn, William, 8
Home, Bishop, 223

William, 8
Houghton, John, 7

Lord, 88
Howard, Angela Fitzalan, 236

Lord, of Effingham, 88

Lord, of Glossop, 236

Mary Stafford, 226

Philip, 22
Hubart, the maidservant, afterwards

called Catharine, 74
Hubblethorne, Lady, 16
Huddlestone family (Essex), 47

Jane, 52

Lady, 195
Huntingdon, Henry Hastings, Earl of,
166-7, 169, 176, 204

INGLEBV family, 139
Lady, 188, 203, 205
Sir William, 203, 230

272

INDEX

Irish Franciscan Friars, 72
Ivens, Mr, 192

James I., 23, 50, 54, 90, 209, 215, 261

James II., 23, 225, 226

James family, 161 -2

Jansonius, Dr, 37, 58

Jeames (see James)

Jerningham, 18

Sir George, of Cossey, 226

Lady, 264
Jesus Psalter^ by Richard Whytford,

monk of Syon, 43
Johnson, Richard, 40

Thomas, 8, 9
Jones, Ven. Griffith, xiii, 51

Ven. John, O.S.B., 41, 51, 52
Jordan, Abbess, 143

Dame Isabella, O.S.B., of Wilton,

143
Joseph, Teresa, 46, 235

Kellison, Dr, President of Douay,

44, 256
Kemp family (Essex), 47
Frances, 194, 238-9
Thomas, of Pentlow Hall, 238
Kentwell Manor, 216
Knightly, Sir Edmund, of Fawnsley,

144
Knox, Father, xii

Laburn, Susan (see Laybourne)
"Lady Wintour's Walk," 182
Lake, Sir George, 19
Lamb family, 256 et seq.

Mary, 244, 256
Lambspring, Benedictines of, 227
Lancashire Plot, 142
Lancaster Castle, 138
Landen, Mr, 198
Lander, Anne, 180
Lane, Sir Thomas, 89

Sir William, 89, 112
Langley, Ven. Richard, 167, 170, 172,

196
Lanherne, daughters of St Teresa, ix
Large, Thomas, 16
Lascelles, Agnes, 171
Laud, William, 50

Laughton, Gilbert, 146

Lawrence, Robert, 7

Lawson family, 175 et seq., 205

Dorothy, 175, 189, 205-6, 246

Roger, of Bourch, 189

Roger, widow of, 177 179, 189
Laybourne, James, 17, 22

Susan, 17, 21, 34, 64, 78, no ; death,
265
Leicester, Earl of, 134
Leland, 10
Leo XIII., Pope, 9
Leyburn, Bishop, 127
Liege, xi, 228
Liege, Sir Thomas, 244
Lierre, x

Life of Margaret Clitheroiv, 22
Life of Mother Margaret Clement, x,

xii, 18
Liggons, Mr, 73, 74
Line, Venerable Ann, 52, 91
Lincoln Castle, 155
Lisbon, English college at, 127, 148
Little Manual of the Poor Maris

Devotion, 127
Lives of the Saints, 225
Louvain, x, xi, 3, 12, 17, 202, 238

Chronicles, xiii
Lovel, Elizabeth, 203

Lady, 199, 203
Lucy family, of Charlecote, 134

Dame Magdalen, Abbess of the
Benedictines of Ghent, 135

Sir Thomas, 133-5
Lumbos, Elizabeth, 257-8

Francis, 257
Luttrell, Sir Geoffirey, 130

Sir John, 88, in
Lydbury Parish Church, 222

Macdonald, Thomas, of Keppoch,

235
Mallerie, Brother, 246
Mallory, Sir William, 203
Maids of honour, duties at Queen

Elizabeth's Court, 87
Manners, Grace, 220
Marina, Mother, 225
Markenfield, 16
Markham, Sir Griffin, 90, 261

I

I

INDEX

273

Marren, Mrs, vision of, 253

Marsh, John, 170

Marshfoot, 3

Martin V., 12

Marton, Roger, 216

Mary, Queen, 10, 13, 26, 145, 219

Mary, Queen of Scots, 93, 135, 148

Mary Beatrice, Queen, 226

" Maryland Pioneer, A," 92

Matthew, Toby, 16

Maurice, Godfrey, 51

Mayne, Cuthbert, 44

Maxwell, Lady Winifred, 234

Lord, 234
Maxwell-Scott, Hon. Joseph, 236
Meade, Mary, 173
Mechlin, 5, 10

Archbishop of, 259
Melford Church, 216
Mettam, Mrs, 205
Middlemore family, 217

Humphrey, 8
Middleton, Anne (Jane), 174
Montague, Abbot, 128

Justice, 224

Lord, 257
Moore, Mrs, 258
More, Elizabeth, 10

Sir George, 88

Blessed Thomas, 3, 4, 9, -5, 44, 48
Morley, Lord, 252

Morris, John, S.J., xi, xii, 19, 47, 130
Morse, Father, 178
Mortimer, Ann, 199

George, 199
"Mother of the Maids" (Mrs Brom-

field), 86
Mounteagle, Lord, 185
Mush's Life of Margaret Clitherow^ 22

Napier, Archibald, 185

Neale's Views of Intare sting Churches,

216
Nesham, 175
Neuilly, xi
Nevell (see Neville)

John, 16
Neville, Catharine (Lady Gray), 16

Charles, 15

Grace, 15, 16-18, 67 ; death, 32

Neville, Henry, of Holt, 216

Lady Abbess, of Pontoisc, 16, 49,
174

Sister Mary, 16
Newcastle Catholic Conference, 147

Prison, 178
Newdigate, Sebastian, 8
Newgate Prison, xiii, 8, 158, 193
Newhall, Sepulchrine nuns at, xi, 228
Newton Abbot, xi, 3, n, 15, 22
Nithsdale, Earl of, 235
Noe, Catherine, no, 119, 164
Norfolk, Duke of, 10, 232

Gwendoline Constable, Duchess of,
236

Thomas, 1 1
Norreis, Eleanor, 219
Norris, Emilia, of Spekc, 139
Northumberland, Countess of, 16, 89

Earl of, 15, 170
Norton, 16

Oates's Plot, 16, 46, 137
Obit Book, xi

Offspring, Margaret, 32, 119
Oldcorne, Father, S.J., 94, 184
Oliver's Collection, 146
Orange, Prince of, 30
Oulton, Benedictine nuns, ix
Ousebridge Prison, 166-8, 171
Oxford, 9
Earl of, 216

Page, Ven. Francis, S.J., 91
Palmes, Sir George, 180

Lady, 189
Panzani's Relation to the Holy Sec, 1 46
Pardon, general (1552), 10
Paris, xi

Parham, Sir Edward, 249
Parr, Anne, 46

Queen Catharine, 46, 93
Parsons, Father, S.J., 21, 89, 146
Parry, Sir John, 219
Paston family, xiv
Pedigrees —

Allen, at end

Clement, at end

Clopton, at end

Copley, at end

274

INDEX

Pedigrees —

Gififard, at end

Hoo, Barony of, at end

Tremayne, at end

Wiseman, at end

Woodford, at end

Worthington, at end
" Peine forte et dure," 5 1
Pembroke, William, Earl of, 46, 145
Peppard, Henry, of Drogheda, 142
Percy, Thomas, xiv, 15, 170, 231
Perrot, Sir John, 226

Mary, 227
Perry Hall, 137
Persall, Sir Richard, 132
Persecution of Carthusian monks,

3,8
Pershall, Sir William, 146
Petre, Sir John, 42

Lady, 78

Sir William, 10
Pickering, John, 231
Piers, John, 11
Pierson, Walter, 8, 9
Pigot (see Francis Bygod)
Pigott, Catharine, 15, 67 ; death, 32
Pilgrimage of Grace, 15, 231
Pits, Mr, 65, 244
Placet, the house of Mr Liggons, 74,

79
Plowden family, 221 et seq.
Plymouth, Bishop of, 49
Pole family, 241 et seq.

Cardinal, 221, 241, 257

Catharine, 166

Geoffrey, 241-2, 257 ; compels pur-
suivant to eat writ, 243

Margaret, Countess of Salisbury,
166, 220, 221, 241 ; executed,
242

Mary, 238, 241, 243, 257
Pollen, Father, xii, 22, 41, 172
Pomfret Castle, 230
Pontoise Chronicle, 48
Pool (see Pole)
Poole, Anthony, 16
Poor Clares, Darlington, ix, 5, 152
Poor SouPs Friend, xiii
Pope Leo XHL, 9
Pounde, Thomas, 94, 148

Powis, Lord, 46

Marquess of, 46
Prannel, Alderman, 190
Pressing to death. Widow Wiseman

sentenced to, 51
Prideaux, Magdalen, 112

Thomas, 89, 112
Princethorpe, Benedictine nuns, ix
Provost, Mr, 148

Provincial of the English Jesuits, 17
Public Record Office, 21

Radcliffe, R. D., F.S.A., xiii
Radcliffe, Margaret, 234
Rastell, John, 10

William, 10

Winifred, 10
Reade, Anne, 219

Sir William, 219
Redman family, 44

Rev. John, D.D., 43, 116, 12 1-2
Redyng, Thomas, 8, 9
Reresby, Mary, 221
Rich, Lord, 50

Lady Penelope, 42, 50, 151

Solicitor-General, 50
Richard, King of the Romans, i
Richardson, James, 48
Robert, Earl of Essex, 19
Rochester, John, 8, 231
Rock-Savage, Viscount of, 131
Roger de Montgomery, Earl, 135
Romana, Dame, O.S.B., 235
Rookwood family, 23

Ambrose, 186, 214

Ann and Dorothy, 17, 18, 23, 32, 33,
84, 120
Roper, Anne, 233

Sir Anthony, 54

Margaret, 4, 18

Sir William, 94
Russell family, xiv

St Augustine's Priory, Newton

Abbot, X, xi, 94
Rev. Mother Prioress of, xiii
St Bartholomew's, Newcastle, 175
St Benedict's Order at Brussels, 114,

202, 211, 249
St Bridget's, 13

INDEX

275

St Everilda, 232
St Francis at Pontoise, 51
St Germain's, Court at, 226
St Gregory's Monastery, 42
St John's Abbey, Colchester, 148
St John's College, Cambridge, 230
St Malo's, 181
St Martin's Abbey, 175
St Monica's, Louvain, x, xi, 16, 17, 19
Conception and preliminary arrange-
ments, 58 - 63 ; licenced, 64 ;
temporal state at starting, 72 ;
legacy, 74 ; eight more nuns
join, TJ ; Prioress elected, 78-9 ;
purchase of building, 80 ; struc-
tural alteration?, 116; a Mr
Baker bequeaths ;^ioo, 119;
dormitory added, 121 ; irregular
burial of a Catholic, 153; Widow
Babthorpe and grandchild take
vows, 179 ; refectory enlarged,
197 ; building of a church com-
menced, 237 ; further structural
alterations, 260
St Omer's, 42, 115, 15 1-2, 156, 160-1,

166, 180, 200, 213, 241, 251, 258
St Paul's School, 9
St Peter, Church of, Louvain, 10
St Peter's Complaint^ 43
St Rumold's Cathedral Church, 7
St Scholastica's Abbey, 49, 174
St Ursula's, x, 3, 12, 17, 20

Resignation of Superior, and ap-
pointment of Margaret Clement,
29; flooded by water, 31 ; in-
fected by plague, 31 ; meagre
fare and hard work, 35 ; elec-
tion of Prioress, 56; English
nuns leave, 68, ^^
St Wilfrid, 232
Sadler, Gertrude, 136
Salisbury, Countess of (see Margaret

Pole)
Salt, Robert, 8
Sambourne, William, 145
Sander, 22
Sandford, Humphrey, 224

Richard, 224
Scholastica, Dame Mary, 234
Scidmoor (see Scudamore)

Scott, John, 142
Scott, Sir Walter, 236
Scryven, Thomas, 8, 9
Scudamore family, i

Sister Mary, 36, 65, 78, 118
Selosse, Anthony, S.J., 228
Sewal family, iS
Shakespeare Country^ by Rose Kings-

ley, 215
Shakespeare, Isabella, 134

Joan, 134

William, 134, 214
Shallow, Justice, Shakespeare's, 133
Sharpe, Father, S.J., 180
Sheldon, Edward, of Steeple Barton,

233
Sheldon, William, 222
Shelley, Elizabeth, 88

Sir Richard, 88
Sherburne family, 139
Sherwood, Joseph, 227
Shirley's Stemmata Shirlciana, 20
Shirley family, 18-20

Elizabeth, xi, 3, 12, 18-20, 30, 33, 59,
^9) 75) 79 ; remarkable conver-
sion, 102-4 ; yocs to Low
Countries, 105 ; enters Si
Ursula's, 107 ; professed, 1 10
Sir George, xi
Shrewsbury, F., 1 1

George, Earl of, 220
Sidney, Sir Philip, 50
Skipton Castle, 129
Slade, Ven. John, 42
Smith family, 173

Frances, 188
Smyth, Robert, 1 1
Smythc, Agnes, 144
Somerset, Lady Anne, 185
Souche, Henry, 43
Southampton, Thomas Wriothcslcy,

Earl of, 148, 221
Southcote, Mr, 202

Mrs, 116
Southwell, Richard, 10, 88

Ven. Robert, 88
Spain, King of, 16

Spetisbury, 15 »

Stafford Letters, xi
Stafford, William, Viscount, Z2(^

276

INDEX

Stanbrook, Benedictine nuns, ix
Standford, Frances, ig6
Stanford (Standford), Mr, 263
Stanley, Captain, 238

Sir William, 39
Stapleton, Hon. Mrs, xiii
Star Chamber, 143
Starkie, Richard, of Stretton, 139
Stonas, Jane and Margery, 167
Stonehouse family, 166 ei seq., 187-8
Stonor, Sir William, 219

Anne, 219
Story, John, 10
Strange, Lord, 140
Stratford-on-Avon, 214
Strickland, Miss, 226
Strictness of Mother Margaret

Clement, 14
Sturry, John, 222
Suppression of religious houses, i
Sussex, Earl of, 15
Suttill, Sir John, 232
Sydney, Archbishop of, 49
Syon (see Bridgettines)

Abbey, 12

Lady Abbess of, xiii

Talbot, John of Grafton, 183
Tallis, the composer, 147
Tasburgh family, 253 et seq.
Taunton, Franciscan nuns, ix
Teignmouth, Benedictine nuns, ix, xii

Lady Abbess of, xiii
Tempest, 16

Clementina, 142
Tesimond, Father, 94
Thelesford, Trinitarian Monastery at,

135
Thimelby family of Irnham, 125, 130-

133
Winifred, third Prioress of St
Monica's, 130
Thoresby, Christopher, of Durward

Hall, 181
Thorowgood, Mary, 163, 252
Throckmorton family, 92-5

Catharine, 184
" John, 120

Mother Margaret (Sister Magdalen),
48, 5S> 92,94, 120, 150, 364-5

Thursby, Christopher, of Buckenhall,
i8r, 194

Mary, 181, 194, 196
Thweng, Elizabeth, 173
Tichbourne, 18
Timperley, Nicholas, 182
Tixall, 135
Tixall Poetry^ 132
Topcliffe, the "priest-hunter," 42, 52,

82-3, 89,90, 145, 151, 221
Totnes, Countess of, 244, 247

Earl of, 215, 244
Tournay College, 127
Tower of London, 5
Townley, Mr, of Townley, 142
Townley Letters, xi
Townsley family, 139
Treacy's " A Maryland Pioneer," 92
Tregian, Francis, 44
Tremaine family, persecution of, 44-5

Ann, 34, 44, 78

Catharine, 33, 44 ; death, 34

Margaret, 33, 44, 78-9, 163 ; death,
265
Tresham, Abbess, of Syon, 185

Francis, 185
Trinitarian Monastery of Thelesford,

135
Troubles of our Forefathers^yA, 137, 166
Tunstall, Bishop, 10
Two Ancient Treatises on Purgatory^

130
Tyburn, 8, 15
Tyrwhitt, William, 186, 212

Ugbrooke, 128, 133

Vaughan family, 18, 48-9

Jane, 48 ; marriage, 81 ; death, 55 ;
(see also Wiseman)

Richard, 93
Vaux, Ambrose, 90, 261-2

Anne, 130

Lord, 78, 131
Vavasour, Sir Peter, of Spaldington,

145

M.D., Thomas, 145
Vere, Lady Catharine, 157

Ursula, 144
Vilorde, x

INDEX

277

Walker, Robert, 215

Walpole, Henry, 43

Walworth, James, 8, 231

Ward, Mary, 159, 185, 195

Warner, Robert, 11

Warremus, porridge made of herbs,

35
Webster, Augustine, 8
Weema, Mr, 253
Welch (Welsh), Mary, 34, 69, 1 10, 1 16 ;

death, 260
Wells, Swithin, 199
Wesele, Elizabeth de, 12
Westby, William, 20
Westminster, Cardinal Archbishop

of, 49
Westmoreland, Earl of, 15, 16
Wharton, Thomas, Lord, 171
Whitaker's History of Craven, 129
White, Ven. Eustachius, 41

John, II
Whitford, Richard, 144
Whitseal, Ursula, 181, 244
Why do 1 use tny Paper, Pen, and

Ink? 43
Whickham, Elizabeth, 196

Martin, 173, 196
Widdrington, Roger, 44
Wigmore, Lady, Abbess of Pontoise,

93

Rev. Father, 174

Sir William, 93
Wilford family, 55, 94

Barbara, 33, 55, 69, 163
Wilson's English Martyrologe, 22
Wiltshire, Thomas, Earl of, 219

Sir John, 142
Wimpstone, 218
Windesem, Congregation of, 12
Windsor family, 142 et scq.

Margaret, Prioress of Syon, 142-3

Mary, 157
Winter family, 182 et seq.

Gertrude, 221

Mary, 159, 183 ; death, 258
Wintour (see Winter)

Wisbeach Castle, 51
Wiseman family, 47-55, 80
Bridget, 17, 18, 32, 77. 79, 84
Mother Mary (Jane), 17, 18, 32;
election, 46 ; professed, 54 ;
leaves St Ursula's, 77 ; elected
Prioress of St Monica's, 79;
parentage, 80-85
Widow, xiii, 48-53 ; marriage, 81 ;

death, 55, 84
Sir William, 42, 52, 84, 116
Wolsey, Cardinal, 9, 143
Wood, Anthony h, 10
Woodford family, 2-3

Elizabeth, x, xi, 2, 3, 11, 15 ; leaves
England and joins St Ursula's,
24 ; influence on Margaret
Clement, 28 ; death, 31
Elizabeth (Rridgettines of Syon), 2
WoodrolTe, Robert, 138-9
Woollascot, William, 222
Woolrych, Sergeant, 222
Worcester, Edward, Somerset, Earl of,
146
Marquess of, 46
Worthington, Ann, 154

Dr, President of College at Douay,

154
Mrs, 78, 93, 123

Thomas, 21, 32, 60, 64, 93, 123, 154 ;
death, 197
Wright family (Essex), 47

Ven. Peter, 91-2
Wriothesley, Thomas, Earl of South-
ampton, 148
Wroxhall, 134
Wyrrall, Elizabeth, 185

Yates, Francis, 159
Yaxley, Frances, 145
Yelverton, Father, S.J., 14S
Yepez, 22
York, xiv

Imprisonment of nuns at, Jos-/")

Castle, 166-7, 234

President of, 204

FEINTED BY

OLIVER AND BOYD

EDINBURGH

^o^c'

I. i

— Neville of
Roulstone, Co.
Leicester.

Robert Woodford
(4'.h son) of Bright-
well, in parish of
Burnham, Bucks,
married in 1489.

Alice, daughter and
heiress of Thomas
Gate, Esq., of
Brightwell, Co.
Bucks.

ter
of

Mary, wife of John
Ede of Sussex.

ELISABETH,
a Noon. (Nun.)

Ursula, wife of
Walter Leigh
of Padway, Co.
Warwick.

Si BELL, wife of
John Ailyffe
ofSouthampton.

Dorothy, wife of

John BYsscHorr

of Gt. Dareys.

Cecily, wife of
— Weston of
Banbury, Co.
Oxon.

I
Susan.

Alice.

.izabeth,

S.P.

.ES.

^OOjJH

'M

From the MS. Visitation of Buckinghatnshin

WOODFORD PEDIGREE

{After many premom generations)

RAUFE WOODFORD

William w<

son and heir, died
V. patr

OODFORD, = Ann, daughter of
Simon Norwych
of Brampston,
Co. Northants.

. = (l) MaLICENT,
daughter of
Thos. Markham.
= (2) Margaret,
! daughter of
I John Jerninghara
of Suffolk.

— Neville of
Roulstone, Co.
Leicester.

Robert Woodford =
C4th son) of Bright-
well, in parish of
Burnham, Bucks,
married in 14S9.

Alice, daughter and
heiress of Thomas
Gate, Esq., of
Rrightwell, Co.
Bucks.

(i) John Turville.

(2) Wm. Turville, his

brother.

(3) Thomas Morton,

OHN Morton,
aged 18 in reign
of Hen^VIII.,
1 517-8.

I I I
Agnes.
Helen.
William,

n, Eustace.
>n, Christopher.
m, Cuthbert.

Margaret, wife of
Edward Gram-
STAM of Hedford,
Bucks., gent.

Gamaliel. Elizabeth ^^ (i) George Weldon, base son

Thomas. = (4) Robert to Thomas of Gotham,

Sylvester. Moulton, Co. Berks.

gent. =^ C^) George Hynde, Sergeant

Plummer to Henry VIII.

= (3) John Fisher of Bmniing-
ford, Co. Herts.

Iver, Co. Bucks,

: CO Will. Jackman of

Wing, Bucks.
: (2) Francis Darrell of
Camport, Bucks.

Anthony, Robert, Jane.

= Katherine, daughte

Ursula, wife of
Walter Leigh
of Padway, Co.

John Ailyffe

ofSouthampton.

Dorothy, wife of

John Bysschopp

of Gt. Dareys.

Cecily, wife of
— Weston of
Banbury, Co.

Mabel, Ursula. Elizabeth,

.•I^.V;S-— SABLE, THREE LEOPARDS' HEADS ARGENT ISSUING FROM FLEURS DE LYS, GULES.

r

Qt. of

Jhan-
1570,

Th

1 / •. J *>>

= William Rastell,
an exile for the
Faith, died at Lou-
vain, August 27,
1565, aged 57,
buried by the side
of his wife.

DOROTHY,

a Nun.

Poor Clare.

MARGARET, a Nun,
professed at St Ur-
sula's, Louvain, litb
October 1557, died
May 161 2, at St
Monica's Con\'cnt in
the same town. Pii-
oress of St Ursuli's,
38 years.

EMAYNE. = Mary Prideaux of
Theuborough, Co.
Devon,

I
Thomas Tremavne,
a/ias Francis, adm.
Eng. Col., Rome,
Oct. 18. T598, died
there Aug. 12, 1599.

1574, Joan, daughter
of Richard Coffyn of
Portledge, Co. Devon.

Mary = Thom,\s Henslowe.

^

C(jWttU(t

\(UAlUf\»-

CLEMENT PEDIGREE

•

JOHN CLEMENT. M.D., died Jul. i, 1572, at =
MechliD, buried in the Cathedral Church of
St Rumbold, in that city. An exile for the

Faith.

cellor Bl. Thomas More, died Jul. 5, 1570,

Thomas Clement, only
son. Living in I$72.
Died at Louvain, buried
in the Church of St
Monica's Convent

CESAR CLEMENT, Priest,
D.D., ordained at Rome in
15S7. Dean of St Gudule
3t Brussels, died 28th Aug.

dow =: Robert Redman.

— Thomas Prideaux,

WlNEFRED. died at =

WuTlAM Rastfii,

DOROTHY,

MARGARET, a Nun.

Esq..of Co. Devon,

an exile for the

a Nun.

professed at St Ur-

lived in 1572.

buried beneath the

Faith, died at Lou-

Poor Clare.

sula's, Louvain, nth

Organ of St

vain, August 27,

October 1557, died

Peter's Church in

1565, aged 57,

May 1612, at St

that town.

buried by the side
of his wife.

Monica's Convent in
the same town. Pii-
oress of St Ursula's,
38 years.

JOHN REDMAN. Priest,
D.D., ordained in 1594.
Canon of St Omer's, died
Sepl, 29, 1617.

Magdalen Prideaux, = William Copley

only child. of Roughway, Co.

(1st wife.) Sussex.

TREMAYNE PEDIGREE

CO Helen =

= Sampson Tremayne, = (2]

Margaret, daughter

Henry

Tremayne. =

= Mary Prideaux of

Thomas Tremayne,

of St Ewe, Cornwall,

and heiress of — Down-

Theu borough, Co.

a/iijs Francis, .idm.

SOyears a prisoner in

ing of Tredowan, Co.

Devon.

Eng. Col., Rome,

chains for the Faith.

Devon.

Oct. 18, 1598, died

George Wuxoughby,

there Aug. 12, 1599.

OHN, S.J., born

Brothers

William Tremayne,

1
Richard. = Beaton

ane. =

in Dorset, 1592,

and

son and heir.

Carlyon.

of St Enoder. Vixii

died at the Eng.

Sisters.

— Agnes =

1630.

Col., Rome,

— Cheritia =

Aug. 8, 1615.

1— ANNE TREMAYNE,

Took the a/ias

a Nun, professed at

Ann.

= Zachary Arundell

of COTTAM.

St Ursula's, Louvain,
20th May 1601. Sent
to the Bruges founda-
tion, and died there,
i6th Sept. 1639.

of St Ermodis.

= Thomas Cooke of

Truro.

N, daughter

Philip

Tremayne, CA

THERiNE TREMAYNE,

MARGARET TREMAYNE, Jane.

1

Richard Tremayne =

In 1574. JOA

was a

tDouayCol., I

lun, professed at St Ursula's

Nun, professed at St Ursula's

of Tregonnan, parish

of Richard

Coffvn of

1585.

(

onvent, Louvain, died 1597.

29th Jun. 1598, died at St

of St Ewe. 1

Portledge, Co. Devon.

J

an. 9, 1603.

Monica's Convent, Louvain,

ijthDec. 1624.

Mary ^ Thomas Henslowe.

^

Other issue.

aughter of

Roper

r^ham, Co.

isq., died

Richard, died

young.
John.
Frances, wife of

Thomas Fitch

of Brasenhead, Co.

Essex.
Elizabeth, wife of

— Smyth.
Mary, wife of Thos.

Fansha\\-.

2. Sir Robert Wiseman =-
of Standon, Co, Essex.

daughter

of Fiu.

Sir Richard Wisema.n

of Standon and Thi.t.
dcrsley, Co. I -t
created a B:i:
Dec 18, 1628. o^. S.I-.

2. Robert Wiseman =:Anne, daughter of

of Rivenhall.

William Norgate
of Panfield, Co.
Essex.

Thomas Wiseman,
ast. circ, 10, 1634.

Frances.

Samuel.

Elizabeth.

Mary.

Penelope.

Helen.

Susan.

Isabel, wife of Sir Henky
Bosville of Eyncsford,
Co. Kent, Knt.

Maria Barbara.

PENELOPE, Nun at St
Monica's Convent, Lou-
vain, professed 1634,
lived in 1676.

FRANC US a Priest, .idm.
at the Eng. Col., Rome,
aged circa 30. Left for
England in 1638. Ahat,

Ignatius Sidlev(?).

Ifl/ai/Wim

PEDIGREE OF WISEMAN OF BRADDOCKS

Parish of Wimbish^ Co. Essex

. Thomas Wiseman, :
born 1538, of Brad-
docks and Felsted,
Co. Essex, died 17th
December 1585.

. Sir Ralph Wiseman of = (i) Elizabeth, daughter of

bouse in Wales, and
her mother a Tudor of
the blood royal." — Lou-

5. Richard Wiseman

of Torrcll's Hall. Co.
Essex, died iith Nov.
1618, Ki. 73.

Mary, daughter of
Robert Browne of
London, genu, by
Margaret, his wife,
cousin and heiress
of Thos. Lucas of
London, gent,, died
1635, aged 80.

Sir William Wiseman =^ Ja

of Braddocks, Knighted
in the reign of James
L, vixil, 163+.

Edmund Huddles-
ton, Knt., of Saw-
slon, Co. Cambridge.

Thomas, ent. Soc. of
Jesus, died at Si
Omer's, 1596, «i.

Robert, died

- BARBARA, Brid-
gettine Nun, died
at Lisbon, 1649,

I
JANE, Nun at St Ursula's
Convent, professed 1595,
died 1633, aged 63. First
Prioress of St Monica's
Convent, Louvain, for 27

■ BRIDGET, Nun, professed
at St Ursula's, 1595, died
at St Monica's, 1627.

, Sir Thomas Wiseman = Isabel, oughter of

'" Anthon; Roper

of FariiVham, Co.
Kent, fsq., died

(i) Lady Serclur,

Elizabeth, wife of

— Smith.
Mary, wife of Thos.

Fanshaw.

Sir Richard Wiseman

of Standon anJ Thun-
dersley, Co. Essex,

: (2) Mary, daughter
of Sir Rowland
Rugeley of Pun-

WINEFRED, Nun,
O.S.B., at Brus-
sels, prof. 1603,
died 1647, set 63.

AuRELius Percy
Wiseman, killed
in a duel .it Loo-
don, December
II, 1680, aged

WiNEFRED, daughter = Francis Englefield,
and co-heires6. son and heir of

Elizabeth, = Richard
heiress of I Clagett,
Braddocks. ol London,

Mary, = Thos.
daughter and Bedingfield.
co-heiress.

Mil

John.
Ralph
Rich A ID.
Willi/>m.

Sir William Wiseman,
created a Baronet, Jun.
15, 1660, died 1693,

Elizabeth, daughter
of Sir Lewis Mansell
of Morgiam, Co. Gla-
morgan, Knt. and

llllll

Samuel.

Elizabeth.

Mary.

Penelope.

Helen.

Susan.

Co. Kent, Ki

Maria- Barbara.

PENELOPE, Nun at St
Monica's Convent, Lou-
vain, professed 1634,
lived in 1676.

FRANCIS, a Priest, adm.
at the Eng. Col., Rome,
aged circa 30. Left for
England in 1638. Alias,
Ignatius SidlbyC?).

I

Wiseman Clagett of
Barnard Inn, Lon-
don, gent., oL 1st
Nov. 1741, whose
exors.sold Braddocks
in 1749 to Charles,
Lord Maynard.

Thos.Weston of LoDdon.

lvffv1tM«fll'i

3W

Dorothy, wife of John,
son and heir of James
Biitwistle of Huncotes,

Jun at St Moni- MARY, a Nun at St Mc

uvain, professed ca's, Louvain, 2lsi N

i i6S4, aged 55- 1^38, died nth Jun. i6

aged 25.

Mary, wife of John Hoghton
of Park Hall, Esq- She had
3 daughter, MARGARET, who
died young.

William Y -^^^ ^^ g, AGNES Nun at St Thomas, 4th son, born asrd

55P\ I Convent. prcH Monica's Convent, Nov. 1671, a Dominican,

diedS.^ g died 1723. professed 1684, died professed at Bornhem, 1692,

' 1714. died 2Sth Feb. 1754, Eet. 83,

UQ at St Moni- *«■ 59-

.Oct, 16, 1662,
I 1680, died

3W

hington

HOMAS WoRTHlNGTON, D.D., President of Douai College, after-
wards S.J. Died at Biddies, Co. Staffordshire, ctr. i6a6.

William.

I
Peter, .S.J.

Dorothy, wife of John,
son and heir of James
Birtwistle of Huncotes,
Esq.

ifun at St Moni-
lavain, professed
a 1654, aged 55.

MARY, a Nun at St Moni-
ca's, Louvain, 21st Nov.
i6a8, died inh Jun. 1636,
aged 25.

Thomas.

r

Mary, wife of John Hoghton
of Park Hall, Esq. She had
a daughter, Margaret, who
died young.

WilliarAy, Nun at St
j.^Pj • \ Convent, pro-
^•^^478, died 1723,

lin at St Moni-
hvent, born at
1, Oct. 16, 1662,
[ 1680, died

AGNES, Nun at St
Monica's Convent,
professed 1684, died
1714-

Thomas, 4th son. bfrn ajid
Nov. 1 67 1, a Dominirati,
professes! at Bornhcm, 169a.
died 25th Feb. 1754- sc«- **.'■
sac. 59.

I. M

born
her to
(other
within
n the
;ow to

Esq.,
i the

14,

^rand-
ngton.
sshire,
red at

lV(rVttu«^(i

WORTHINGTON OF BLAINSCOW

Descended from a Younger Son of the Worthingtons of Worthington

!

I ~ ' i

Richard Worthington of Blainscow Hall in Cophull, Co. Lao- =^ Dorothy, daughter of Robert Charnock of Chamock, Co. Lan-
caster, Esq. Died in prison for the Faith, 25th Sept. 1 590, I caster, Esq. Living in 1620.
.-iged about §2.

t Louvain an exile for the Faith,
died there 1619, and was buried
in the Church of St Monica's

Mary, daughter of George Allen of
Rossall Grange, Co. Lane, Esq.
[by Elizabeth, daughter of Wm.
Westby of Mowbreck Hall, Co.
Lane, and of Westby, Co. York,
Esq.], and sister and heiress of
John Allen of Rossall, Esq. She
was niece to Cardinal Allen, her
two sisters, Helen and Catherine,
were Nuns at Louvain. Mrs
Worthington died 1626, buried in
the Church of St Monica's Con-

\MES, a Priest,

John, S.J., died in

ord. at Douai,

prison for the

1610.

Faith in 1648.

Dorothy, wile of Jo

son and heir of Jai
Birtwistle of Hunco

William Worthington, -

- Helen, daughter of Richard

Richard, a Priest, bapt. at

ANNE

a Nun at

Esq., of Blainscow Hall.

Biddulph of Biddulph

St Quentin, Louvain, 1606,

ca's,

Louvain,

Died suddenly at Knares-

Hall, Co. Staffords., Esq.

ord. at Rome. Was 3nd

lei-;

died i6S4

borough, Co. York, 20th

Chaplain at St Monica's

April 1663.

Convent from 1652 to 1667,
when he died and Jul. ;
buried in the Church of St
Monica's.

MARY, a Nun at St Moni-
ca's, Louvain, 21st Nov.
1638, died nth Jun. 1636,
aged 25.

I

Thomas Worthington, == ]a
son and heir, of Blains-
cow Hall, Esq., aged 28
in 1664, lived in 1698.
He mortgaged Blainscoe
in 1673.

"JE, daughter of John Plumpton
of Plumpton Hall, Co. York.
Esq. [son and heir of Sir Edward
Plumpton, by Anne, daughter of
Richard Townley of Townley
Hall, Esq., Co. Lane.], born
1630, living in 1698.

VIary, wife of John Hoghton
of Park Hall. Esq. She had
a daughter, MARGARET, who
died young.

1

/ILLIA

1
Richard Worthington =

= (I) Margaret, daughter

John, bom at Standish

MARY, a Nun at St

Sept.

19, 1664,

of Blainscow Hall, Esq.,

and heiress of Edward

in 1668-9, living in

Monica's Convent,

died s

bom Oct. 17, 1664. He

Alcock of Eccleston,

1692 at Douai Col-

professed 1674, died

was outlawed as a Jaco-

Co, Lane, Esq., bom

lege.

1734, aged 77. Prior-

bite, and convicted of

Dee 34, 1572, married

recusancy in 1717.

Feb. 10, 1688, died May
5, 1701-
= (a) J.^NE , married

— Frances, left Louvain
in 1673, married —

1

1

1 1

1 1

Mary, eldest child.
bom 1690, lived ii
1698.

William, bom
eldest son land heir of
Blainscow Hall, lent to
Bornhem, 1708 ; lived
in 1714, died unmar-

S- JANE, born 1695, Nun
at St Monica's Convent,
professed I? 1 7, died

DOROTHY. Nun at Si
Monica's Convent, pro-
fessed 1678, died 1723,
aged 64.
-ANNE, Nun at St Moni-
ca's Convent, born at
Standish, Oct. 16, 1663,
professed 1680, died
1707.

6. Thomas Worthington, born
1694, succeeded his father to
Blainscow Hall estate (other
estates at Thonon within
Poulton, inherited from the
Aliens). Sold Blainscow to
Robert Holt of Wigao, Esq.,
Jun. 19, 1732 ; sold the
Thornton estate, Aug. 14,
1729, inherited from his grand-
father, Thos. Worthington.
Died at Hooton, Cheshire,
Oct. 3, 1742 ; will proved at

AGNES, Nun at St
Monica's Convent,
professed 1684, died

Thomas, 4th son, born 33rd
Nov. 1671, a Dominican,
professed at Bornhem, 1693,
died zjth Feb. 1754, set 83,

/^>

ARMS-

-ARG
IN :

CO. LANC.

Authorities— Fishwick's History of Pouium-u-

Fylde ; Dugdale's VUit. of Lane.; lomvatm
MSS.

Ralph Ali, Robert Allen

of King's Bromley.
John Allei^
Buckenhalj

Ralph All

Thomas Allen
Brookhouse,
Stafford.

I
Ralfe Allen of Wad- =

dington, parish of
Milton, Co. York.

I living at Rossal),

Ralph Allendp. Henry VII. ;
Brookhouse, tepham, anie 1530.

Richard III. :

Henry VII.

Elizabeth, wife of Ralph
Allen of Brookhouse, Co.
Stafford.

'ES,

een
9th

ER

am

ill,

w of
ancs.,

I I
Richard Allen

viv. 1530.

Hugh Allen,
viv, 1560.

I Allen Gillow,

John Allen o|,t. at Kirkham,
born 1554, odtiih Nov. 1564.
a-Mousson, J
1584, S.P.

A quo Gillow o(
Singleton, etc.

AiUii

PEDIGREE OF ALLEN OF ROSSALL, CO. LANG.

Ralph Allen.

Thomas Allen of z
BrookhouBe, Co.
Stafford.

Authorities— Fishivick's ffis/^y of PohUok-U-

Fyide: Dugdale's Visit, of lane,; Louvam

Robert Allen
of King's Bromley.

Mitton, Co. York,

John Allen, living at Rossall,
Co. Lane, temp. Henry V!I. ;
buried at Bispham, anU 1530. '

John Allen of Rossall, = Jane, daughter of Thos.
married before 1530 ; Listerof Arnold Big-

will dated Ap. 1569. gin, in Westby, Co.

York, Esq,

George Allen of = Isabel,

Rossall ; will I viv. 1530.

dated 27th Mar.

Wi

I Allen.
1530.

Thomas Allen, viv. = (i)

1530, merchant of = (2) Anne Thwaites,
London, buried at gentlewoman to Queen

St Michael's Church, Elizabeth, married 19th

Comhill, 2ist Dec. Jan. 1566.

1591.

George Allen of Rossall,
Esq., born (ir, 1529, died
9th Aug. 1579.

John Allen of Rossall,
bom 1554, 06, at Pont-
a-Mou3son, 24th June
1584. S.P.

HELEN, Nun at St Ur
sula's, Louvain, pi
fessed 1594, 06. 1603,

Margaret, baptised _.
Kirkham, 30th Sept,
1563.

CATHERINE, N..., ai
St Ursula's, professed
iS9S-oiS.at StMonicVs
Convent, Louvain, 17th
Nov. l6ia.

Elizabeth, daughter of
Wm. Westby of Mow-
breck Hall, Esq., and
sister of Ellen, wife
of Vivian Haydock of
Cot tarn Hall.

Marv, born 1575, =
died 1625, buried
in the Church of
St Monica's Con-

RiCHARD Allen of Tod-
derstaffe Hall.

William Allen, the

Cardinal, nai. 1333,
o&. 1594.
Gabriel Allen, an exile,
unmarried, oi. at Rome,
24ih Mar. 1597-8.

: Thomas Wor

of Blainscough Hall,
Co. Lane, Esq., died
1619, buried in the
Church of St Monica's
Convent, Louvain.

Ill

Mary, wife of Christopher
CONYERS, Esq., of Yorks.

Elizabeth, wife of William
Hosketh of Maynes Hall,
Co. Lanes., Esq.

Anne. = George Gillow of
Bryning, Co. Lanes.,
. gent.

Elizabeth, wife of Ralph
Allen of Brookhouse, Co.
Stafford.

Richard Allen

hn Allen Gnxow, = ■
bapt. at Kirkham, I

29th Nov. 1564.

A guo WoRTHINGTON of Blai

^lANORE, daughter of
Leo 6th, Baron Lord
Welles.

=Thomas West, 8th Lord
DE LA Warr, K.G., died
1525-

H^o

lOPLEY.

Elizabeth. = Sir John Da\enish.

.s Lane.

Margaret, =-- Thomas Shelley
of Mapledurham,
Co. Southampton.

Mary.

John Musgrave
of Hexham.

Helen =

(and wife).

Sister

V MUSGRAVE,
St Monica's,
ssed 1632.

Others.

Richard Stanihubst
of CodofT, IreUnd.
After the death of hi*
2nd wife, he became
.-» Priest, .ind wan
made Ch.-iplain to the
Archdukes Albert
and Isabella ; died at
Brussels, 161S.

I I

Peter Stanihurst, S.J.,
cm. the Society in 1616.

William Stanihurst,
S.J., ent. the Society in
161 8, died 1 663, aged
61.

BARONY OF HOO, CO. BEDFORD

(a) Elizabeth Winchingham. =t Sir Thomas Hoo, ist Lord Hoo and Lord =3 (1) Elizabeth Felton, by = (3) Alianorh, daughter of
I Hastings, in Sussex, died circa 1453. whom an only son, who I Leo 6th, Baron Lord

Barony of Hoo extinct. died S.P. Welles,

Alianore. = Sir James Carew
of Bedington,

Jane Hoo, = Sir Roger Coplev.
heiress of
Welles.

Elizabeth. 1= Sir John Davenish.

COPLEY PEDIGREE

Sir Roger Copley. = Ja

or Anne, eldest daught€
heiress of Welles.

Lord Thomas Copley de Gatton :
Co, Siurey, Baron of Welles,
only son and heir, knighted at
Paris, died Sept. 15, 1S84.

lir Roger Copley of = (2) Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Wm. Shelley,
Gatton, Co. Surrey. I Km., Justice of the Common Pleas, and sister

to Sir Richard Shelley, last Eng. Lord Prior
of St John of Jerusalem. (2nd wife.)

Bridget = Richard Southwell of

(1st wife). Horsham, St Faith,

Norfolk. Father of the

martyr, Robert Southwell,

Sir Hbnrv Copley,
died at the Court of
France, aged 19.

(i) Magdalen, daughter of =

Thomas Prideaux, Co.
Devon, died 30th Aug.

■ William Copley, 2nd 1
and heir, died Dec.
1643, aged 79,

1 == (2) Margaret, daughter of

, William Fromondes of

Cheam, died April 30,

Roger Coplev,

William Copley, = Anne, daughter of
2nd son, of Burnt I William Shelton of
Hall, Co. Surrey. Ongar, Co. Essex.

Catherine. = Sir Thomas Lane.

Sir William Lane.

Margaret. :^ Thomas Shelley
of Mapledurham,
Co. Southampton.

Mary Copley. = John Weston of
Sutton Place, Co.
Surrey, Esq., died
1690.

Anne, wife of
Sir Nathaniel

MiNSHULL.

-HELEN, Nun at St
Monica's Convent,
Louvain, professed
May 8, 1612, diedgth
Jul. 1666, aged 74.

-MARY, Nun at St
Monica's, professed
8th May 1612, died
7th Jan. 1669, aged
76.

. ^ Elizabeth

ELIZABETH, Nun
at St Monicas,
prof. 29lh Aug.
1624, died 1st Dec.
1679, aged 77.

DOROTHY MUSGRAVE.

Nun at St Monica's,

professed 1632.

Helen = Richard Stanihurst

of Codoff, Ireland.
After the death of his
2nd wife, he became

made Chaplain to the
Archdukes Albert
and Isabella ; died at
Brussels, 1618,

1618, died 1663, aged

r

J, wife of
ACKSON,
orkshire.

I. \

MARY, Nun at St Moni-
ca's, professed 1622, died
1st Mar. 1653, aged 55.

CATHERINE, Nun at St
Monica's, professed 1622,
died 24th Sept. 1676, aged
74.

8. Ursula. = (i) Col. Thomas Makkham
of OUertoD. Co Noti»,
killwl at Winceby, a
parU Rf^i, October I a,
1643-4, buried »t OUer-
ton.
=P (2) Henry Neviu. aitM
Smith, of Holt, Co.
Leicester.

Henry Nevill. ANNE, Nun, O.S.B. at

Pontoise, died 1687,
aged 30.
Ursula = Sir Wm. Mannock of
Gifford's Hall, Co,
Essex.

Liektihi,

CLOPTON PEDIGREE

Ashton of Great Lever, Co.
Lane, Esq.. by Mary, daughter
of — Orrell, of Turton Tower,

Margaret, wife of

Jane, wife of
— Jackson,
of Yorkshire.

: Eglantine, daughter
of John Keyt of Er-
lington, Co. Glou.

. CUTHBERT, Priest, bom
1607, ordained Priest at
the EDg. Col., Rome,
1634, died at Rome,

. Elizabeth.
. Anne.
. Frances.

OYCE

professed
at St Monica's Convent,
Louvain. 1622, died at
Bruges Convent, Nov. 26,
1674. aged 75.
5. JANE. Nun, professed at
St Monica's, 1622, died
at Bruges Convent, 1669,
aged 68.

3. MARY, Nun at St Moni-
ca's, professed 1622, died
1st Mar. 1653, aged SS-

6. CATHERINE, Nun at St
Monica's, professed 162a,
died 34lh Sept. 1676, aged
74.

8. Ursula. = (i) Col. Thomas Markham

. Thomas Clopton,

ir John Clopton, = Barbara, daughter of

J638, died 1692. Sir Edw. Walker, Knt.,

Garter King-at-Arms.

Henry Nevill.

1 I
ANNE, Nu
Pontoise,
aged 30.

George Carew, created Baron Carew
Clopton in 1605. Earl of Totnes, i:
Charles I., died 27th March 1629.

[ = Joyce, daughter and co-heiress of Wm.
, Clopton of Clopton, Co. Warwick.

" She died a great heretic."

'^ many Genen

Sir Robert Throckmorton of
"t, Co. Warwick,

daughter of ROBl

arde of Capes- died

Co. Chester,
id 1660 circ.

IS GiFFARD of Water Eyton, Co.
lear Dudley CdiSilt, ex parte Regis

1
S. G

ide.

6. G

8. E

r,

JOYCE, Nun at

St M(

Louvain, professed J

aged 63.

1

RSULA

= Sir Thomas Vavasc

Hazelwood,

Co.

created a

Baront

Charles I.

ANNE VAVASOUF
Nun at St Monica'
Convent, professe^
1633, died 1667, age.
54.

FFARD. = WiNEFRED, 3rd dau,

co-heiress of

descended from the
of Painesly Hall, C

4 Daughters.

)f Robert James, J*^"-

of Sir Thomas
rt., of Coughton.
ier of Thomas Stonor of Stonor,
lied April I, 1808. (ist husband.)
Prioress Stonor of St Monica s
,, who brought back the Com-
1 in 1794'

Vm. Throckmorton, Esq.

GIFFARD PEDIGREE. After many Getieratimis

John Gipfard of Chillingion, Esq., Co-
Staffi., died i6i3. He was honoured
with ft viiit from Queen Elizabeth at
ChilliDgton (Aug. IS7S), who called him
"ffcntle Ginard," but before ibc had
gone 4 miles from hi* houK, hmd him

up

town ud ooamiUed

pnaon.

JOVCB, daughter of Sir
James Levuon of Lilies-
hall and Trcntham, Knt,
and merchant of yc Staple.

Eleanob. daughter of
John Warde oif Capes-
thome, Ca Chester,
Esq., died liJbocxrt.

Hall, Co. Sbffs., Esq.

GiOKGB Smith of Wootoi

Wawcn, Co. Warwick
died 1607.

I I
3 Other
Daughtei

RODBST, died unmanied.

FRA.Nas GlFPARD of Water Eyton, Co. Staffs., Captun, = PUBEFOl, daughtcT of Thomas Fletcher of Watei Eaton,

r Dudley Q^A^Xt^tx parU Rt^. (and husbaad.)

and relict of Wm. Cheiwynd of Water Ea<

, Walter Gifpard of — Philippa, daughter and

ChillinRton, Esq.,
married 1579, died
April 1633.

of Henry While,
Esq.,ofSouthw:trnboroueh,

, RlCBARD GlFPARD of Sarcdon :
and CMtToid, Co. Staffs., gent
(3nd husband.)

. ELlZAorTH, daughter of Thomas
Levison of Wolvcrhamptoo, and
sister of Sir Walter Levison,

JOYCE, Nun at St Monica's Convent.
Louvsin, professed 1615, died 1669,
aged 63.

Marv. == Francis Purcell of Austere, Co. Salop.

, PBTEit Gipfard of -
Chillington, Esq.,
a great Royaliti,
He had his estates
■cqucatered, but died
"full of days," 35th
Jul. 1663.

Frances, daughier of

Walter Fowbr, Esq.,
of St Thomas' Priory,

, John Gifpard. =

, daughter of Sir

Andrews, Km., of Win-
wick, Co. Noribarap*

II II i

Dorothy.

BRIDGET, Nun at St Monica's
Convent, professed 1631, died
1637, aecd 31.

ANNE, Nun at St .Monica's, pro-
fessed 1631, died 1673, aged
75.

3. George
married
at St Monica's Conver

6. Richard Gifpard,

-- Francis Hanford of
Woollashall. Co.
Worcester, Esq.

. = Sir Thouas Vavasour of

I Hazctwood. C«. York,

created a Baronet by

ELIZABETH HANFORD,
Nun at St Monica's Con-
vent, professed 1658.

ANNE VAVASOUR,
Nun at St Monica's
Convent, professed
1633, died ib67,aged

1—4. RotiBRT Gifpard, M.D.
— $. Andrew Giffakd of Giffard House, =
Wolverhampton, stain near Wolver- I
ham^ton during the Civil Wars,
fighimg « pcrt$ Rtgis. \

—7. THokiAS Gifpard = Margarbtt,

of White Ladies, j daughter and sole
Co. S:)lop. I heiress of Thos.

Cresswell of
Wolvcrhampttm.

ELIZABETH PURCELL, Nun at St
Monica's, Louvain, professed 1656,
died 166S, aged 3$.

UMaRY. •!

I— Cassandra. I All

—Ursula. f married.

— Franc Rs. J

.—Dorothy, ist wife of Sir
Walter Lbvison, Knu,
of Wolverhampton.

: (0 Anne, 3rd daughter

of Sir Thomas Holt,
Bart., of Aston,
= (3) Anne Huggb-
ford.

MARY, a Nun at St
Monica's, Louvain,
professed l6as,
dic'l 1675, ngeJ

4. John Gifpard of ^=
Black Ladies, Co.
Staffs.

Richard Hawkins

of Nash Court,
Co. Kent.

Charles Gipfard, who
assisted in the escape
of Charles I. from tne
field of Worcester to
White Ladies and Bos-

r JONATHAN Colo, Priest,

'—Edward Gipfard.

WiNEFRED, 3rd daughter and

co-heiresa of Draycoit,

descended from the Diaycotts
of Pftinesly Hall, Co. Staffs.

PETER Gifpard,

Priest, born 1639,
died 1687.

9'-
4. Andrew Giffard, j<

'iic^lScpL 14, 1714.
Anne.

Makv, lived in 1656.
CATHERINE, a Nun at the English TcresUni

Lierre, professed 1657, died 1718,

John Gipfard of CbiU =1 Frances, daughter of
lingion, Esq., bom I William Fitihcrbert of
1637, died 1694. Swynnerion, Esq.

John Gifpard of Black = Catherine, daughie
Ladies, married in | — Langtoo, Esq.
1685, died 170a.

Thomas Gipfard of Chiltingtoi
Eaa., born l658,died 1718, s.r
ana was succeeded by his kini

; Mary, daughter of John Thim
elby. Esq., of Irnham, Co. Lin
coin, died 1753, aged 95.

Petes Gipfard of Chillington, ^^ CO Winefred Howard, s.p.
succeeded to the estates on = (2) Barbara, daughter of Sir Robert Throck-
lorton of Coughton, Bart., Co. Warwick.
= (3) Helen, daughter of Robert Roberts,
Esq., of PISs Ucho, Co. Flint.

the death of his 3nd
Thomas Giffard, in 1 718, died
Jul. 8, 1748.

Maria, wife of Sir
Edward Smvthb,
Bart., of Acton Bur-
ncll, Co. Salop.

Anna Maria, wife of Mr
Weld, and of the Lul-
worth Cutle family.

rife of Sir JOBN ThroCKUORTON of Coughton, Bart.

1 and heir, = Lady

! (i) Barbara, daughter of Robert James, Joi

8th Lord Pctre.
=-= (3) Barbara, daughta of Sir Thomas
Throckmorton. Bart., of Coughton.
= (3) Frances, daughter of Thomas Stonor of Stonor,
j Co. Oxon.. Esq.. died April 1, 1808. (ist husband.)

i She was sister to Prioress Stonor of St Momca s

~~ Convent, Louvain, who brought back the Com-

munity to England in 1794.

UN GiFFAHD, inhaited = Elizabeth, daughter of Robert
his mother's esuies. i Hyde of Nuquis, Co. Flint,

Esq.

Frances, wife of Wm. Throckmorton. Esq. John Gipfard. died s.p., 1833- = Eleanor Sutton, of Irel.nd.

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